Don’t Bully Me, Bard!

Shakespeare? A bully?! Maybe yes, maybe no, and it’ll be up to your students to decide in this fast-paced comedy aimed directly at the heart of bullying. A group of Shakespearean actors take the stage at your school but they’re soon interrupted by a member of the audience who points out that the Bard of Avon might have been a bit of a bully. Written by playwright Ken Bradbury who’s delighted Midwest youth audiences for 30 years with his traveling theatre troupes, Don’t Bully Me, Bard is performed by the Swords and Roses acting group. Swords will flash, laughter will ring out, and your students will leave the performance with a powerful message on how to handle bullying. (And Shakespeare, being currently dead, won’t mind at all.)

I’m not married to the title or the synopsis, so feel free to have your way with either. I hate titling. I’d rather do like Shakespeare and call it “Sonnet 128.” The word “Bard” might be a problem for elementary school kids who aren’t familiar with the term.

Alternate titles: Don’t Bully Me, Bill! Bully for Shakespeare! Maria goes wild with her cutlass and lance… (Whatever you like)

Brad Ware: Bradley.ware@ic.fbi.gov