About Us & Activities

National Shakespeare Competition

The English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition assists high school teachers across the country with their Shakespeare and language arts curriculum. Through the competition, students are encouraged to develop their communication skills and an appreciation of the power of language and literature. 

2017 ESU Central Pennsylvania Shakespeare Competition

We invite all schools serving Grades 9-12 in our area to participate in the 2017 Shakespeare Competition. In this program, high school students nationwide read, analyze, perform and recite Shakespearean monologues and sonnets in as many as three qualifying stages: school, community (ESU Branch) and national levels. Learn more about the Competition.

Note:  Dates and Venues To be Announced Soon

Program Registration:  Sign-up your school with the ESU Central Pennsylvania Branch.  To register, please complete the School Participation Form.  Note: You are not guaranteed participation in the program this year unless you sign-up your school.

School Competition:  Hold an in-school Shakespeare competition (where students each perform a monologue from Shakespeare's plays). Select one student to represent your school at the community (ESU Branch) competition.  Note:  Monologues can be no longer than twenty lines according to the Folger Shakespeare Library editions of the plays (Simon & Schuster, 2003-2013).  The Folger texts are available for free at www.folgerdigitaltexts.org.  

• View Monologue Rules & Eligibility

• View 2017 Suggested Monologues Packet

Next Steps:  Upon completion of your school competition, your school must complete and return the School Winner Entry Form and Photo Release Form with your school winner's information to the ESU Central Pennsylvania Branch Shakespeare Coordinator (contact details at right).

Branch Competition (2/19/2017):  The winner of your school competition presents one of Shakespeare's sonnets (in addition to their monologue) at this community event.

• View Sonnet Rules & Eligibility

• View 2017 Suggested Sonnets Packet

The ESU Central Pennsylvania Branch (community) competition will be held on Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 10:30 am here:

Parsons Union Building
Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA
Sunday (snow make-up day)

National Competition (May 1, 2017):  The winner of the ESU Central Pennsylvania Branch (community) Shakespeare Competition advances to the National Competition in New York City (scheduled for April 29 - May 2, 2017).  

Questions?  Please contact the ESU Central Pennsylvania Branch Shakespeare Coordinator (contact details at right).