News And Events

News And Events

The ESU National Shakespeare Competition Starts Now!

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We are pleased to announce the kick-off of the ESU's National Shakespeare Competition! Schools in our region may enter now, giving students the opportunity to compete in The Savannah Branch Competition.  The winner of the branch competition will travel to NYC to compete in the national finals at Lincoln Center!  

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2024 Shakespeare Competition

The next Savannah ESU Branch Shakespeare Competition will be held on Sunday, March 3, 2024, in the Historic Savannah Theater.

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The March ESU Happy Hour Program

The London of Sherlock Holmes by Dr. Annamaria Dall'Anese

Sherlock Holmes knows everything about you: he sees your shoes and knows where you come from, he shakes your hand and he knows what job you do, he looks at the wrinkle in your brow and he knows what you are thinking.  But how much do you know about Sherlock Holmes?  During this virtual tour of Sherlock Holmes' London, you'll answer quiz questions to collect clues to identify a mysterious London location. And, on the way, you will learn a lot about Sherlock and his creator.

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The History of the Book by Professor James Raven

The History of the Book by Professor James Raven

Perhaps we think we know what a book is – it has a cover and a spine and it's usually printed. It might be illustrated and it's usually read, although sometimes not all the way through. But over many thousands of years, books have come in many different material forms and have served many different purposes. 

In this richly illustrated lecture, Professor James Raven, who is a world authority on the history of books, takes us from the earliest inscribed shells, stones, and clay tablets through to modern digital books. This global journey invites comparisons between different materials, including papyrus, bamboo, and plant leaves, and different ways of creating texts by writing, painting, imprinting, and digitising. Not to mention it offers a vivid history of the different influences of books in contrasting times and places.

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2020 Savannah Branch Shakespeare Competition

This year's competition was held at the Historic Savannah Theatre downtown on Chippewa Square. It's the perfect venue for us! We hope this will be the first of many future collaborations.

We accept up to two students per school. This year we had 15 students from 8 schools. The winning student will go on to the National Competition on April 27-28 in NYC. The winning teacher received a cash prize. First- and Second-Runner-up students and teachers also received cash prizes. The winners:

1st Place - Gigi Pingree of Beaufort Academy, teacher Bill Dalton.
2nd Place - Graham Glass of Savannah Arts Academy, teacher Richie Cook.
3rd Place - Emma Dillinger of Beaufort Academy, teach Bill Dalton.

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ESU Traveling Lecturer to Visit Savannah Branch

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Author Elizabeth St John

"The Secret Life of the Tower of London Guest speaker is author, Elizabeth St.John -- Journey back in time to England's infamous Tower of London and its notorious prisoners. What made Sir Walter Raleigh spend most of his time in a hen-house? Did the Wizard Earl of Northumberland succeed in discovering the Philosphers' Stone? And why did William Shakespeare perpetuate the story of the murdered Princes in the Tower? Elizabeth's ancestress, Lucy St.John lived in the Tower from 1617-1630 as the Keeper's wife, and is the subject of her historical fiction trilogy The Lydiard Chronicles. From first hand accounts, memoirs and hidden archives, Elizabeth shares the secret life of the Tower of London. Place: Cranmer Hall, St John Church, 325 Bull St Date: Thursday, February 6, 2020 Time: 4:00 p.m. Reception to follow meeting. Open to the public.

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SAVANNAH TEEN COMPETES IN 34th ANNUAL ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION NATIONAL SHAKESPEARE COMPETITON IN NEW YORK CITY

With a performance of a sonnet and monologue from Shakespeare, Caroline Downs  from Savannah, GA, a student of Jacqueline Smith at Savannah County Day School in Savannah, placed as a semi-finalist in the 34th  annual English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition in New York City. The Competition took place on May 1, 2017 on the stage of the Mitzi Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center with 54 semi-finalists from as many ESU Branch competitions nationwide. Caroline previously won the ESU Savannah Branch competition.

The winner of the 34th English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition, Ogechi Egonu, representing the San Francisco Branch, received a full scholarship to attend the American Shakespeare Center Theatre Camp in Staunton, VA, this summer.  Second place winner, Brandon Burk, from the Kentucky Branch, won a cash prize of $1,000 from The English-Speaking Union, while the third place winner, Trevon Wainwright, representing the Kansas City Branch of the ESU, received an award of $500 provided by The Shakespeare Society.

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A Message from the Savannah Branch President

The Savannah Branch is the third oldest branch of the English Speaking Union in the United States. our branch is vibrant, growing and fun. Not only do we have monthly speakers but each meeting end with cocktails.

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The English-Speaking Union

Savannah Branch

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Welcome to the ESU

The ESU celebrates English as a shared language to foster global understanding and good will by providing educational and cultural opportunities for students, educators, and members.

To find out more about our programs click here.