The three Shakespeare enthusiasts, Paul, Nick and Elizabeth, who work in the Learning Department are committed to the provision of the highest quality educational experience for those who study, teach, or appreciate Shakespeare's works - as text or performance - worldwide. Here at the Shakespeare Centre we organise day and evening classes, long and short courses, lectures and theatre visits. Our public programme is open to all but we also offer individually tailored events for universities and schools. Courses are given both by the department's own experts and by visiting scholars and actors. We often work in close collaboration with the RSC and the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham.

Paul is Head of Learning at The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, an Honorary Fellow of The Shakespeare Institute, and an Honorary Fellow of The Society for Teachers of Speech and Drama. His first degree is from the University of Durham. He did his post-graduate work at The Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham, and produced a critical edition of The London Prodigal (1605) for his Ph. D. He has lectured on Shakespeare in France, Germany, Norway, Hungary, Rumania, and the United States. He is co-supervisory general editor of the New Penguin Shakespeare and has produced a new introduction to Richard II for the series. He is co-author (with Stanley Wells) of Shakespeare's Sonnets for Oxford University Press (2004). His book on Twelfth Night was published in the Palgrave Shakespeare Handbooks series (2005). He has published numerous articles and reviews, and is assistant director of the Stratford-upon-Avon Poetry Festival. Paul's love of Shakespeare is apparent to anyone who has ever had the pleasure of listening to him give a reading from the poetry or the plays. The passion and conviction which can clearly be heard whenever he shares Shakespeare's words help to make his lectures and discussions a particular treat - his enthusiasm is truly inspiring.

Nick is a Lecturer in Shakespeare Studies at The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. He obtained his MA and PhD from the Shakespeare Institute, and has taught at the University of Warwick. As Executive Secretary to the International Shakespeare Association he helped organise the Eighth World Shakespeare Congress in Brisbane, Australia in 2006, and is currently working toward the 2011 Congress to be held in Prague. He regularly reviews Shakespearian productions, and he has written introductory material for the New Penguin editions of Timon of Athens and Love’s Labour’s Lost, as well as contributing a chapter on Glen Byam Shaw to the book Director’s Shakespeare.

Elizabeth Woledge (M.A. Ph.D)

Elizabeth is a lecturer in Shakespeare Studies at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. She has taught at the Universities of Chester, Liverpool and Manchester (Met.) where she enjoyed devising stimulating seminars for undergraduate students of English literature. Her M.A. focused on Shakespeare's Sonnets and the influence of Plato in Renaissance England, a topic which continues to intrigue and fascinate her. Currently the Editor of our magazine Shakespeare at the Centre Elizabeth is a lively and imaginative teacher who is able to inspire interest in Shakespeare's texts across a range of audiences. Open minded and enthusiastic, Elizabeth will help you explore what Shakespeare can mean to you personally.