The Olde School Shakespeare Collective

A Chicago theater company, The Olde School Shakespeare Collective presents Shakespeare productions on the city's North Side. Its performances take place in intimate settings and combine serious acting with an unserious atmosphere, drinking, and audience interaction. The collective stages works including Twelfth Night and Measure for Measure, along with special readings and contemporary reimaginings such as Love's Labor's Lost: THE OATH. Performances are created through a self-directed, non-hierarchical process rather than a traditional director-led structure. The company rehearses its work once and performs it in a public house, inviting community members to gather, have a drink, and experience Shakespeare in a contemporary format. Its work emphasizes Shakespeare for working-class audiences and community-oriented theater-making.