UCOP Shakespeare Club members enjoy an enthusiastic virtual reading of “As You Like It.” (Top row: Kelley Ogden and Nicola Gruen; middle row: Kathleen Lohmann and Sira Hotsinpiller; bottom row: Tom Myers and Zuleikha Shakoor.)

The UCOP Shakespeare Club kicked off its first lunchtime play-reading on Friday, May 2, with Shakespeare’s beloved comedy “As You Like It.”

Series director Kelley Ogden led the session with an engaging introduction that made the 400-year-old play accessible and relevant for all attendees. Kelley broke down the plot and characters in a refreshingly straightforward way, highlighting key themes and decoding Shakespeare’s language. She cleverly connected the play’s court setting to our professional environment at UCOP, giving everyone a relatable entry point to the material. A brief Royal Shakespeare Company video further helped visualize the storyline before we jumped into our reading.

Colleagues from across departments volunteered to bring characters like Orlando, Rosalind and the jester Touchstone to life in a selected scene. The impromptu performances created a fun, collaborative atmosphere as participants engaged directly with Shakespeare’s language.

Afterwards, we shared reflections on the experience, discussing surprising discoveries and personal connections to the text. The session concluded with an announcement of the next three plays scheduled for the remainder of 2025:

• “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” – Friday, July 18, 2025
• “Macbeth” – Friday, October 17, 2025
• “The Winter’s Tale” – Friday, January 16, 2026

The UCOP Shakespeare Club welcomes all staff members to our upcoming play-readings — no prior Shakespeare experience is required! Our lunchtime sessions offer a refreshing break from the workday while connecting with colleagues across departments.

For more information about upcoming events or to join the club, please contact Nicola Gruen.

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