Teaching Workshop: Shakespeare and the Law
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The workshop with young offenders and young people on probation aims at awakening UNIMI students and other participants to the issues of justice, detention and punishment.
It stimulates discussion about the meaning of being foreign starting from the participants' individual stories as well as from the witness of practitioners who help the group to understand the juridical process of the welcoming in Italy.
It brings the group to read the Shakespearean play with a multidisciplinary approach.
It helps the participants to recognise and to bring out their own skills (artistic, communicative, organising, etc.) in order to improve the collective project.
It guides the group towards the creation of a theatrical event (playwriting, conceiving scenography and costumes, backstage shooting, etc.) and its promotion (contacts with the media, and the social networks.
It stimulates discussion about the meaning of being foreign starting from the participants' individual stories as well as from the witness of practitioners who help the group to understand the juridical process of the welcoming in Italy.
It brings the group to read the Shakespearean play with a multidisciplinary approach.
It helps the participants to recognise and to bring out their own skills (artistic, communicative, organising, etc.) in order to improve the collective project.
It guides the group towards the creation of a theatrical event (playwriting, conceiving scenography and costumes, backstage shooting, etc.) and its promotion (contacts with the media, and the social networks.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the workshop, students will have had a unique experience of working together with a group of young offenders and youth on probation; they will have increased their knowledge about the life in a juvenile prison and its rules. They will also have learnt to discredit several stereotypes about "young criminals".
The work on the individual creative skills as well as the constant confrontation with such a varied group will lead students to acquire self-confidence and will push them to test their capabilities in a completely new way.
The multidisciplinary reading of the Shakesperean play will give students some samples of possibile future careers.
Being involved in all the steps of the work, they will acquire specific competences:
- critical reading of a literary text;
- creative writing;
- writing of "diari di bordo";
- drafting of press release;
- designing leaflets;
- promotion with the media.
The work on the individual creative skills as well as the constant confrontation with such a varied group will lead students to acquire self-confidence and will push them to test their capabilities in a completely new way.
The multidisciplinary reading of the Shakesperean play will give students some samples of possibile future careers.
Being involved in all the steps of the work, they will acquire specific competences:
- critical reading of a literary text;
- creative writing;
- writing of "diari di bordo";
- drafting of press release;
- designing leaflets;
- promotion with the media.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Giudizio di approvazione
Assessment result: superato/non superato
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Organised in collaboration with the Puntozero Teatro company, the workshop offers a unique opportunity to work alongside a diverse group comprising young people from the Cesare Beccaria Juvenile Detention Centre, individuals on probation, and members of the Puntozero Teatro company. William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" will be creatively rewritten through the lens of the law and presented to the public in a final performance on 29 November 2025.
Led by Maggie Rose and Mariacristina Cavecchi (lecturers in English Theatre), Lucio Camaldo, Letizia Mancini and Luigi Cominelli (Department of Legal Studies, "Cesare Beccaria"), and Giuseppe Scutellà and Lisa Mazoni (Puntozero Teatro — a company that has been active at the Beccaria detention centre for over twenty-five years), participants will attend sessions with invited guests (to be confirmed). They will also take part in a variety of creative activities designed to produce materials such as theatre scenes, journal entries, poems, drawings, photographs, videos and press releases, all of which will contribute to the final performance.
By the end of the workshop, students will have gained direct experience of working with a diverse group including young people who are or have been in juvenile detention. They will gain insight into life in detention and the relevant legislation, while also confronting and challenging common stereotypes about 'young offenders'.
Working within such a diverse and interdisciplinary group, while developing individual creative skills, will help students to gain greater self-awareness and encourage them to take on new challenges in unexpected ways.
Thanks to the workshop's multidisciplinary nature, students will explore the Shakespearean text from multiple perspectives, gaining a deeper understanding of the various professional opportunities that studying Shakespearean theatre can offer.
By being actively involved in all stages of the process, students will also develop a range of specific skills, including:
- the ability to read and analyse a theatrical text critically;
- creative rewriting of selected scenes from Shakespeare;
- keeping reflective journals (learning diaries);
- drafting press releases;
- engaging with journalists and the media.
- using social media to promote the final performance.
- designing the event's poster and programme booklet.
A short, eight-minute documentary about a previous edition of the workshop — La Statale al BeKKa, by Francesco Castagnino and Giacomo Colussi — is available at the following link: https://vimeo.com/801210079
The workshop is limited to 25 participants and will take place at Teatro Beccaria Puntozero (Via dei Calchi Taeggi 20, a short walk from Bisceglie Underground Station) on the following dates:
Saturday 25 October, 9:30-13:00
Saturday 8 November, 9:30-17:30
Saturday 15 November, 9:30-18:30
Saturday 22 November, 9:30-17:30
Saturday 29 November (final event): 9:30-20:00
An introductory session presenting the aims and structure of the project will be held on 29 September in the Sala di Rappresentanza, Via Festa del Perdono (morning, exact time TBC).
Students who wish to do so will also have the opportunity to work directly within the Juvenile Detention Centre (IPM 'Cesare Beccaria') on Tuesdays and Thursdays by joining sessions held at the centre.
Led by Maggie Rose and Mariacristina Cavecchi (lecturers in English Theatre), Lucio Camaldo, Letizia Mancini and Luigi Cominelli (Department of Legal Studies, "Cesare Beccaria"), and Giuseppe Scutellà and Lisa Mazoni (Puntozero Teatro — a company that has been active at the Beccaria detention centre for over twenty-five years), participants will attend sessions with invited guests (to be confirmed). They will also take part in a variety of creative activities designed to produce materials such as theatre scenes, journal entries, poems, drawings, photographs, videos and press releases, all of which will contribute to the final performance.
By the end of the workshop, students will have gained direct experience of working with a diverse group including young people who are or have been in juvenile detention. They will gain insight into life in detention and the relevant legislation, while also confronting and challenging common stereotypes about 'young offenders'.
Working within such a diverse and interdisciplinary group, while developing individual creative skills, will help students to gain greater self-awareness and encourage them to take on new challenges in unexpected ways.
Thanks to the workshop's multidisciplinary nature, students will explore the Shakespearean text from multiple perspectives, gaining a deeper understanding of the various professional opportunities that studying Shakespearean theatre can offer.
By being actively involved in all stages of the process, students will also develop a range of specific skills, including:
- the ability to read and analyse a theatrical text critically;
- creative rewriting of selected scenes from Shakespeare;
- keeping reflective journals (learning diaries);
- drafting press releases;
- engaging with journalists and the media.
- using social media to promote the final performance.
- designing the event's poster and programme booklet.
A short, eight-minute documentary about a previous edition of the workshop — La Statale al BeKKa, by Francesco Castagnino and Giacomo Colussi — is available at the following link: https://vimeo.com/801210079
The workshop is limited to 25 participants and will take place at Teatro Beccaria Puntozero (Via dei Calchi Taeggi 20, a short walk from Bisceglie Underground Station) on the following dates:
Saturday 25 October, 9:30-13:00
Saturday 8 November, 9:30-17:30
Saturday 15 November, 9:30-18:30
Saturday 22 November, 9:30-17:30
Saturday 29 November (final event): 9:30-20:00
An introductory session presenting the aims and structure of the project will be held on 29 September in the Sala di Rappresentanza, Via Festa del Perdono (morning, exact time TBC).
Students who wish to do so will also have the opportunity to work directly within the Juvenile Detention Centre (IPM 'Cesare Beccaria') on Tuesdays and Thursdays by joining sessions held at the centre.
Prerequisites for admission
Both Italian and English will be used during the workshop. A knowledge of English is required for the materials and exam bibliography.
Teaching methods
The workshop promotes active and collaborative learning, encouraging participants to work in groups and engage their creativity. Particular attention is given to developing the ability to collaborate within a diverse group and to fostering the exchange of skills and knowledge among students from different academic backgrounds, particularly language and legal studies. Activities include:
- critical analysis of theatrical texts;
- creative rewriting and adaptation of selected Shakespeare scenes;
- reflective journaling to document the workshop experience.
- drafting press releases;
- engagement with the media and contact with journalists.
- strategic use of social media to promote the final performance.
- graphic design of the event poster and theatre programme.
Learning Objectives:
_To raise awareness among students at the University of Milan and beyond about issues related to juvenile detention and restorative justice through direct engagement with young people who are currently detained or serving non-custodial sentences.
_Encourage critical reflection on the themes of the 'stranger' and hospitality, based on participants' personal stories and insights from professionals working in the field who have experience with unaccompanied minors arriving in Italy.
_To take a multidisciplinary approach to reading and rewriting Shakespearean texts and to enhance dialogue between literature, law, education and the performing arts.
_Foster self-awareness to help participants recognise and develop their own skills, whether artistic, communicative, organisational or interpersonal, within the context of a collaborative project.
_Supporting the design and realisation of a theatrical event will involve all aspects of production, from scriptwriting and set design to costume creation, backstage photography and promotion through the media and social platforms. This will include the development of materials such as trailers and press kits.
- critical analysis of theatrical texts;
- creative rewriting and adaptation of selected Shakespeare scenes;
- reflective journaling to document the workshop experience.
- drafting press releases;
- engagement with the media and contact with journalists.
- strategic use of social media to promote the final performance.
- graphic design of the event poster and theatre programme.
Learning Objectives:
_To raise awareness among students at the University of Milan and beyond about issues related to juvenile detention and restorative justice through direct engagement with young people who are currently detained or serving non-custodial sentences.
_Encourage critical reflection on the themes of the 'stranger' and hospitality, based on participants' personal stories and insights from professionals working in the field who have experience with unaccompanied minors arriving in Italy.
_To take a multidisciplinary approach to reading and rewriting Shakespearean texts and to enhance dialogue between literature, law, education and the performing arts.
_Foster self-awareness to help participants recognise and develop their own skills, whether artistic, communicative, organisational or interpersonal, within the context of a collaborative project.
_Supporting the design and realisation of a theatrical event will involve all aspects of production, from scriptwriting and set design to costume creation, backstage photography and promotion through the media and social platforms. This will include the development of materials such as trailers and press kits.
Teaching Resources
_William Shakespeare "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
_M. Cavecchi, M. Rose (eds.), "Romeo Montague behind Bars" (available for download here: https://libri.unimi.it/index.php/studiteatrali/catalog/view/227/908/2375)
_M. Cavecchi, M. Rose (eds.), "Romeo Montague behind Bars" (available for download here: https://libri.unimi.it/index.php/studiteatrali/catalog/view/227/908/2375)
Assessment methods and Criteria
Participants are expected to play an active role in every aspect of the workshop. Everyone contributes to the creative process, collaborating in the production and promotion of the final performance.
Each participant keeps a daily journal reflecting on their experience, and some are also involved in drafting press releases.
Taking part as an actor is a valuable opportunity to develop expressive skills, improve public speaking and learn to articulate and defend ideas in group settings. These are important skills that are often underdeveloped, yet essential for personal and professional growth.
Each participant keeps a daily journal reflecting on their experience, and some are also involved in drafting press releases.
Taking part as an actor is a valuable opportunity to develop expressive skills, improve public speaking and learn to articulate and defend ideas in group settings. These are important skills that are often underdeveloped, yet essential for personal and professional growth.
Professor(s)
Reception:
8/9, 4pm. 16/9, 3.30pm. Teams: i2vrlh3.
Teams