2023 Shakespeare Competition
Event
The next Savannah ESU Branch Shakespeare Competition will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in the Historic Savannah Theater.
The Savannah Branch is the third oldest branch of the English Speaking Union in the United States. our branch is vibrant, growing and fun. Not only do we have monthly speakers but each meeting end with cocktails.
In September, December, January and June the branch sponsors social events either at members homes or at Savannah's finest private clubs
We generally on the third Sunday of September thru June, starting with the President's reception and ending the the Queen's Birthday party. Our meetings emphasize not only the English language but also English culture, history and literature. We meet in the Ralston Room, of Cranmer Hall, the educational building of St. John's Church, one of the last outposts of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, a masterpiece if English in itself.
Event
The next Savannah ESU Branch Shakespeare Competition will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in the Historic Savannah Theater.
Event – March 15, 2023
The London of Sherlock Holmes by Dr. Annamaria Dall'Anese
Sherlock Holmes knows everything about you: he sees your shoes and knows where you come from, he shakes your hand and he knows what job you do, he looks at the wrinkle in your brow and he knows what you are thinking. But how much do you know about Sherlock Holmes? During this virtual tour of Sherlock Holmes' London, you'll answer quiz questions to collect clues to identify a mysterious London location. And, on the way, you will learn a lot about Sherlock and his creator.
Event – March 22, 2023
The History of the Book by Professor James Raven
Perhaps we think we know what a book is – it has a cover and a spine and it's usually printed. It might be illustrated and it's usually read, although sometimes not all the way through. But over many thousands of years, books have come in many different material forms and have served many different purposes.
In this richly illustrated lecture, Professor James Raven, who is a world authority on the history of books, takes us from the earliest inscribed shells, stones, and clay tablets through to modern digital books. This global journey invites comparisons between different materials, including papyrus, bamboo, and plant leaves, and different ways of creating texts by writing, painting, imprinting, and digitising. Not to mention it offers a vivid history of the different influences of books in contrasting times and places.
News
This year's competition was held at the Historic Savannah Theatre downtown on Chippewa Square. It's the perfect venue for us! We hope this will be the first of many future collaborations.
We accept up to two students per school. This year we had 15 students from 8 schools. The winning student will go on to the National Competition on April 27-28 in NYC. The winning teacher received a cash prize. First- and Second-Runner-up students and teachers also received cash prizes. The winners:
1st Place - Gigi Pingree of Beaufort Academy, teacher Bill Dalton.
2nd Place - Graham Glass of Savannah Arts Academy, teacher Richie Cook.
3rd Place - Emma Dillinger of Beaufort Academy, teach Bill Dalton.
Event
Author Elizabeth St John
"The Secret Life of the Tower of London Guest speaker is author, Elizabeth St.John -- Journey back in time to England's infamous Tower of London and its notorious prisoners. What made Sir Walter Raleigh spend most of his time in a hen-house? Did the Wizard Earl of Northumberland succeed in discovering the Philosphers' Stone? And why did William Shakespeare perpetuate the story of the murdered Princes in the Tower? Elizabeth's ancestress, Lucy St.John lived in the Tower from 1617-1630 as the Keeper's wife, and is the subject of her historical fiction trilogy The Lydiard Chronicles. From first hand accounts, memoirs and hidden archives, Elizabeth shares the secret life of the Tower of London. Place: Cranmer Hall, St John Church, 325 Bull St Date: Thursday, February 6, 2020 Time: 4:00 p.m. Reception to follow meeting. Open to the public.