Join🤡 us for an exploration of the endlessly fascinating world of Shakespeare — not as a fixed literary monument, but as a writer whose works remain alive and constantly open to reinterpretation. Every director, every actor brings their own vision to the plays, and each generation discovers something new.
This special evening will bring together leading voices from the worlds of scholarship and performance: Emma Smith, Professor of Shakespeare Studies at Oxford; Tracy-Ann Oberman, wh𒆙o recently starred as Shylock in her own adaptation of The Merchant of Venice; and acclaimed actor Joseph Kloska.
As a 1640 edition of Shakespeare’s poems and a rare late quarto of Julius Caesar go under the hammer, the evening will feature lively discussion, fresh insights and a performative element that will reveal just how adaptable and relevant Shakespeare remains today.
Meet the Panel
Sam Leith is Literary Editor of the Spectator and author of several books, most recently The Haunted Wood: A History of Childhood Reading.
Emma Smith is Professor of Shakespeare Studies at Hertford College, University of Oxford, and an expert on Shakespeare’s First Folio (not too shabby on the others too). Her book This is Shakespeare was a Sunday Times bestseller, and Portable Magic: A History of Books and their Readers was shortlisꦉted for the Wolfson History Prize in 2023. She convenes a monthly Shakespeare webinar at Oxford’s English faculty: do come and join us.
Tracy-Ann Oberman is a renowned British actress, writer and playwright, who most recently played the first UK female interpretation of Shylock in her adaptation of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (1936), a radical new produc🍬tion set in the East End at the time of the Battle of Cable Street. She is widely known for her award-nominated role as Chrissie Watts in EastEnders and as Yvonne Hartman in Doctor Who. She has starred in Ridley Road👍, It’s A Sin, After Life, Toast of London, and Friday Night Dinner.
Trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, Oberman spent four years with the Royal Shakespea👍re Company befor𒉰e joining the National Theatre. Her extensive stage credits include Boeing-Boeing, Fiddler on the Roof and Noises Off, the Jamie Lloyd Pinter at The Pinter season and The Windsors: Endgame and Edmond.
Oberman co-created Jews. In Their Own Words at the Royal Court and has written numerous acclaimed radio plays for BBC🌠 Radio 4. She has been a regular columnist for The Guardian as well as other publications.
Joseph Kloska is a British actor, director and teacher. His work as an actor on stage includes a decade 🎃of work with the Royal Shakespeare Company between 2011 and 2021 as well as for the Royal Court, the Barbican, the Manchester Royal Exchange and at theatres around the UK, Europe, the West End and New York. Highlights on stage include Tiro in Robert Harris’s Imperium in Str🌸atford-upon-Avon and the West End, Leontes in The Winter’s Tale for the RSC, Richard III with Adjoa Andoh in Liverpool and London and most recently, playing Gloucester in Sir Kenneth Branagh’s production of King Lear in London and New York.
He has appeared extensively on television, film and radio for the BBC, Netflix, Channel 4 and Amazon Prime. Highlights include ori𒁏ginating the role of Lord Porchester (‘Porchey’) in Seasons 1 and 2 of The Crown on Netflix, two films with British director Mike Leigh (Happy-Go-Lucky and Peterloo) and has played regular characters in series of Foyle’s War for ITV and Pete Vs Life for Channel 4.
Alongside his acting career, he directs, t🥂eaches and works on the audition process for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and elsewhere.
He was Theatre Produc🥂er for the European Alpbach Forum in Upper Austria from 2013-2019. He continues to produce original work in Austria and beyond.
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