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About The Bardlings
The Bardlings are the junior Shakespearean acting program run under Tallahassee’s SOUTHERN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY. Established in 2015, the mission of The Bardlings is to develop an understanding and fondness for the study and performance of Shakespeare and classic drama in today’s youth as well as professional instruction and training in acting techniques. Our goal is to develop a comprehension of Shakespeare’s classics, while also ensuring that participants truly enjoy the subject matter and have fun in the process. Through exciting and innovative productions, open workshops, and community theatre based field trips, we seek to engage students and foster dialogue regarding the importance of the creative arts in our schools, our communities and our lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Can Join The Bardlings?
Middle and High School Students.
When Do The Bardlings Meet?
For our Spring 2021 Semester, The Bardlings have the opportunity to choose between two groups: a Virtual Group who will participate in rehearsals via the Zoom app, and an In-Person group who will participate in face-to-face rehearsals at Making Light Productions, following strict Covid safety standards. These meetings will be held on Monday or Wednesday evenings depending on your group and where we are in the season.
Is There A Fee?
The membership fee to join The Bardlings is $150 per semester. Full and partial scholarships are available through The Gillum Family Foundation.
2020-2021 Season
We are now very excited to announce our Spring 2021 semester! The Bardlings will write and rehearse their 5th edition of ShakespeaREtold, with a focus on scenes that will inspire social change – to be performed at the 2021 Southern Shakespeare Festival. For the first time, this semester The Bardlings have the opportunity to choose between two groups: a Virtual Group who will participate in rehearsals via the Zoom app, and an In-Person group who will participate in face-to-face rehearsals which will follow strict Covid safety standards.
In person rehearsals will be held at Making Light Productions. To create the safest environment possible for our Bardlings, we’re taking guidance from national, state, and local government agencies as well as similar industries. Masks will be required to be worn at all times during rehearsals and social distancing will be enforced during structured rehearsal time. Sanitizer will be made available at all times and temperature checks will be required prior to each rehearsal. Making Light Production’s extensive health and safety protocol can be found summarized here: Health/Safety Protocols. Please let us know if you have any questions or need additional information.
Virtual Group participants will film their performance to be played during the Southern Shakespeare Festival May 2021 alongside our In-Person Group’s live performance.
We were also thrilled this year to begin an amazing partnership with our non-profit friends at Making Light Productions. Making Light offers Inclusive music, art, dance and theatre classes for children, teens, and adults of all abilities.
Parents: Please click here to access the Bardlings Portal!


