I live in Vancouver, where we have Bard on the Beach, a wonderful festival with four plays each year. My youngest son started homeschooling as of grade 5, and each year our large HS group would buy tickets and off we'd go, with blankets and thermoses for cold days/evenings. It was a JOY to see all the plays each year, with a group of people, from primary "grades" to the adults. I always particularly enjoyed the rides home, with my vehicle filled with young people who would talk (without my voice!) about the play, from the story line (and answering each other's questions about points they'd missed) to costuming (did you SEE how the two families in Romeo and Juliet wore two different colours like two sports teams??) to how the production compared to some other they'd seen in the past! Such memories, and drawing out from each other. The hour long drive was the real piece of learning. My son decided not to read the plays beforehand after a couple years of this, so he could absorb as someone might have centuries ago. He particularly enjoyed that.

He's now 24, and every year he returns, and takes friends with him to introduce them to this pleasure.

These works do need to be experienced, not merely read. Live, preferably.

Thank you for this piece!! Onward...