GregRobin Smith
GregRobin Smith began his journey with Shakespeare in high school when he saw a Star Trek episode featuring an interstellar Shakespearean troupe and that changed the course of his life. After achieving a BA in Theatre at Eastern Washington University in 1977, GregRobin settled in Seattle to seek fortune and fame.
Always an educator, GregRobin founded, “A Knight’s Tour” in 1982, bringing interactive classes in Medieval history to schools all over the Puget Sound region. Now, as managing director of the Washington Shakespearean Festival, he continues to teach with his interactive touring program and performance-based classes for Continuing Education programs at Western Washington University (Bellingham), Skagit Valley College (Mt. Vernon), Seattle Central College (Seattle), and online for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (University of Alaska Fairbanks).
GregRobin has written over 3,000 sonnets, as well as a book on Shakespeare’s writing techniques that includes an original five act Shakespearean style Comedy. He is also a public speaker, a musician, Renaissance Faire performer, and an avid fundraiser, often performing as Benjamin Franklin for non-profit organizations across the country.
Teaching Style & Class Formats
GregRobin’s classes are interactive experiences exploring the methods and mechanics of Shakespeare’s plays as art, craft, and durable good. Through lecture, discussion, role playing, classes explore the point of view of the time Shakespeare wrote the play.
Students will view a slide presentation for the class outline (an electronic version will be made available to the class), see videos of various performances, and read written lines. The instructor’s book on the subject will be made available to every student free of charge (PDF).
The instructor, a trained actor, will demonstrate speeches to highlight concepts. Attendance to summer touring Shakespeare in the Park performances will be optional.
Resources
Student Reviews
“Shakespeare is a life passion for GregRobin and it shows. His enthusiasm is infectious and makes for an engaging class.”
“Mr. GregRobin Smith was a true delight. He is very knowledgeable on the subject and I learned a lot.”
“Please have Mr. GregRobin Smith back."