From live jousting, rich foods, handmade goods and theatrical performances, the Renaissance Festival takes visitors back to what it may have been like in the medieval times. Visitors can browse through the marketplace that’s filled with handcrafted items, feast on hearty foods like a king, view a jousting match dedicated to winning her Majesty’s honor or even try a hand at axe-throwing. The Renaissance Festival is a collection of different activities, entertainment and history that offers an insightful and unique experience of fantasy, royalty and fun for everyone.
Every other year, theatre students have the opportunity to step into the history and festivities of the Renaissance Festival as it relates to their curriculum. This year, their trip will be on October 12th.
“In the curriculum, we talk a lot about Shakespeare and that world of theatre, and the Renaissance fair matches what it may have been like in the Shakespearean time. The live performances also meet our curriculum,” Theatre director Renae Hubbard said.
Students will be participating in all the different activities offered at the festival, like shopping and experiencing different Renaissance characters.
“We are going to watch performances, eat food, ride rides, watch a live jousting tournament, see live mermaids, there’s a guy who flies hawks for the audience, there’s tight roping, there’s juggling, there are comedy acts and then a lot of shopping and eating,” Hubbard said.
Seeing the different actors will help the students learn more about real-life acting.
“These are professionals, most of them tour different renaissance festivals across the country at different times. These are people, like the mermaids for example, who are trained to act like real mermaids, so these are professional actors that they’re watching perform,” Hubbard said.
Students think engaging with the live actors and experiencing acting outside school will help them develop their acting skills.
“There’s a lot of fantastic actors there. I remember last time I went several people made jokes about like this is life with a theatre major, so you can make a living out of this,” senior Matthew Amade said.
Students are looking forward to the whole experience and trying new things they haven’t before.
“I’m excited for the costumes, being able to dress up, seeing the aesthetic, the jewelry, the food and just the whole place just seems really enjoyable,” senior Rachael Bliss said.
This Renaissance Fair provides the theatre students an opportunity to experience real-life acting. Being able to watch and interact with professional actors, students will gain a deeper understanding of both acting and Shakespeare while having fun.
