u3a

Stockton-on-Tees

Shakespeare

Status:Active, open to new members
Contact:
Contact:
When: On Tuesday afternoons 13:30-15:30
Weeks 2 & 4
Venue: Newtown Community Resource Centre

I give you ‘Good day’

Why Shakespeare? Why not? He’s everywhere: in our language, our everyday lives, our feelings and emotions (love, hate, life, death, fate, free will). We use his language every day and we experience those same emotions. And did you know that he invented/popularised over 1700 words/phrases? He did, and they are still with us today.

There’s no need to worry about not understanding his language (but you will), as his plays present people and situations you will recognise. His characters have an emotional reality with which you will identify, and his plays will show you familiar experiences, ranging from family squabbles to falling in love to wars. It’s all there.

You don’t have to understand every word written, but you will understand the feelings, emotions and situations presented in his plays, so you will understand his plays. In other words, Shakespeare was a grand observer of people: their behaviour, their ambitions and their individual reactions to all things, good and bad. How is this any different to tv programmes and films we watch? ‘Coronation Street’, ‘Ye’Stenders’, ‘Star Trek’, ‘Poldark’, ‘The Lion King’, ‘West Side Story’, ‘Dad’s Army’, ‘Lost’ - we could go on and on. (Even Homer Simpson was based on a Shakespearian character.) Shakespeare’s plays, modern television programmes and films all say something about society: society hasn’t changed and neither have the people within it. So why not read the original inspiration for these films/programmes etc? Shakespeare!

So if, like Shakespeare, you are an observer of people: the greedy, the fool, the ambitious, those who don’t know they don’t know, the jealous, the innocent, the kind, the cunning, those who flatter to deceive. The list goes on and on, but you will know that because they are still with us and you know who they are! Why not read it for yourselves with us? After all, strangers are only friends we haven’t yet met.

If you would like to read some Shakespeare with us, have some fun and meet the loveliest group of people ever and learn along the way, then come along. We would love to meet you.

“Give me now leave, to leave thee.”

See below for a list of all groups

Groups listed alphabetically

  • Architecture
    Status: Active
    On Thursday afternoons 13:30-15:30
    Weeks 1 and 3
  • Art Appreciation
    Status: Active
    On Friday afternoons 13:30-15:30
    Weeks 1 and 3
  • Bridge
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Monday afternoons 14:00-16:00
  • Canasta
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Monday afternoons 14:00
  • Classical Music Appreciation
    Status: Active
    On Monday afternoons 13:30-15:30
    Weeks 1 and 3
  • Current Affairs
    Status: Active
    On Wednesday afternoons 14:00-15:30
    Weeks 2 and 4
  • Family History
    Status: Active
    On Tuesday afternoons 14:00-16:00
    Week 4
  • Film
    Status: Active
    On Tuesday mornings 10:00-12:30
    Week 4, session length may vary depending on the film
  • French
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Tuesday mornings 10:00-12:00
  • Gardening
    Status: Active
    On Friday mornings 10:00-12:00
    Week 4
  • History with a twist
    Status: Active
    On Tuesday afternoons 13:00-15:00
    Week 3
  • Italian
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Monday mornings 10:00-11:30
  • Italian for Beginners (Parliamo Italiano)
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Tuesday mornings 10:00-12:00
    This is a new group, starting 6th January 2026
  • Latin
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Wednesday afternoons 13:30-15:30
  • Local History 1 and 2
    Status: Active
    Mornings 10:00-12:00
    Week 3, group 1 on Monday, group 2 on Tuesday
  • Lunch Group
    Status: Active
    On Friday afternoons
    Week 4, start time may vary
  • Movement to Music
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Monday mornings 09:30-10:30
    Meets weekly
  • Needlework
    Status: Active
    On Thursday mornings 10:00-12:00
    Weeks 2 and 4
  • Pardon My French
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Monday mornings 10:00-12:00
  • Pasos a Pasos
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Tuesday afternoons 13:30-15:30
    This is a new group that had its first meeting in January 2025
  • Philosophy
    Status: Active
    On Friday mornings 10:00-12:00
    Weeks 2 and 4
  • Poetry
    Status: Active
    On Monday afternoons 13:45-15:45
    Week 4, from 26th January 2026
  • Quiz
    Status: Active
    On Thursday afternoons 14:00-16:00
    Week 1
  • Reading Group
    Status: Active
    On Tuesday mornings 10:00-12:00
    Weeks 1 and 3
  • Science in Our World
    Status: Active
    On Tuesday mornings 10:00-12:00
    Week 2
  • Shakespeare
    Status: Active
    On Tuesday afternoons 13:30-15:30
    Weeks 2 & 4
  • Social Coffee Morning
    Status: Active
    On Friday mornings 10:00-11:30
    Week 3
  • Spanish
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Friday mornings 10:00-12:00
    Note there is also a beginners' Spanish group, see Pasos a Pasos
  • Ten Pin Bowling
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Friday afternoons 14:00
    2nd Friday afternoon of each calendar month
  • Ukulele
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Thursday afternoons 13:30-15:30
  • Walking 1
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Wednesday all day 10:00
  • Walking 2
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Wednesday mornings 10:00
  • Walking 3
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Wednesday mornings 10:00