ESU’s Shakespeare Competition
Noon Feb. 23
Free
New American Shakespeare Tavern, 499 Peachtree Street
404-874-5299
www.esuus.org/atlanta
Long before he became president of the English Speaking Union’s Atlanta branch, Charles Maddrey knew people had misconceptions about the organization and its mission.
“I know I had a certain perception when I joined, and it’s turned out not to be necessarily true,” said the Sandy Springs resident who joined the ESU shortly after moving to Atlanta in the late 1980s. “I think a lot of people join partly out of curiosity, and they stay because it’s a nice group of people, and we have great programs. But not everyone thinks about our mission and how we reach out to schools.”
The overall mission not to push an English agenda, but rather to promote an appreciation for the language and the culture that spawned it. The 130 members of the Atlanta branch are a mix of Americans and Brits who come together to hear speakers and attend events, as well as to support the work of the national ESU that has 70 branches in the U.S. and more overseas.
“The ESU is an institution focused on English culture and language; it’s not just a social group,” said Maddrey. “I think having that focus is important; it sets us apart from other organizations.”
One of the group’s most singular events is the ESU’s Shakespeare competition, taking place Feb. 23 at the New American Shakespeare Tavern in Midtown. More than 20 high school students from around the state will compete in the 31st annual contest, during which they’ll recite a 20-line passage from a Shakespearean play, as well as a sonnet, without acting or using any type of accent. The winner, selected by a panel of judges that includes an English educator and a veteran actor from the Tavern, heads to a national ESU competition at Lincoln Center in New York.
“The students must use a natural voice, so it’s more like an oral presentation that shows their understanding of the language - which is exactly what our mission is,” said event chair Pam Sellman. “How many students we have varies; one year we had as few as 11, but last year, we had 34.”
Sellman, who moved to the U.S. from Britain 20 years ago, was drawn to join the ESU as a way to connect with other English folk.
“I think when people first come over here (from Britain), they are inclined to look for something familiar,” she said. “There are about 60,000 Brits around Atlanta, and when my husband and I heard of this group, we joined. I like that the meetings are always interesting. Our next one has a guest speaker talking about the defeat of the Spanish Armada. I always learn something!”
Along with regular meetings, the group hosts a holiday party and a spring gala, usually at the home of the British Consul General in Atlanta. But Maddrey said the group’s bigger purpose is what keeps it going.
“We are committed to having interesting programs and being involved with an organization that’s not only national but international,” he said. “I enjoy the socializing, but I also like that we have a purpose.”
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