Shakespeare with Veterans 2021-2022

Military veterans need a unit to belong to, and they want a mission to pursue. Kentucky Shakespeare’s Shakespeare with Veterans program provides both. YOU can be a part of these veterans’ healing journey with a financial donation today.

Kentucky Shakespeare is not-for-profit 501c3 charitable organization, and we provide this program at no cost to participants or audience members. We seek support once a year to fund this work, and we invite you to contribute today!

This summer Shakespeare with Veterans presents WE HAPPY FEW, a compilation of Shakespeare scenes and personal stories from the members' time in the service. 

www.kyshakespeare.com/vets

"It's been 13 years since I left the service and this is the first time a group has worked for me." – US Army veteran, Afghanistan

"This group has helped me gain control over what my emotions do. It’s also helped me relate to civilians better.”  - US Navy veteran, Vietnam

WHAT is it?

Shakespeare with Veterans is a weekly conversation group and acting ensemble – no cost to attend, and no experience necessary! In our 5.5 year history, we’ve formed a tight ensemble and welcome newcomers often. The group has tackled Macbeth, Henry IV, and Julius Caesar, and supported each other through the many challenges of PTSD, moral injury, and reentry to civilian society.

The group weathered COVID together too. We moved our meetings online and didn’t miss a single Thursday. 

With the instruction of Amy Attaway, Associate Artistic Director of Kentucky Shakespeare, the group learns acting and ensemble techniques while gaining an appreciation of Shakespeare and how his works speak to the universal human experience, in wartime and in every aspect of our lives.

"We're all warriors - whether it's the Vikings, or Shakespeare's time, or us. The warrior's heart is the same." - US Army veteran, Vietnam

"We have genuine human connections, and it's so easy. [When we're performing] we don't know what's going to happen and THAT'S OKAY. We're not going to analyze each other." - US Army veteran of the Cold War era

WHO is it?

The current group consists of women and men who are veterans of the US Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, representing conflicts from Vietnam to today, with former ranks from Specialist to Brigadier General. Most deployed during conflict, and most have some form of PTSD or moral injury. ALL veterans are welcome to participate. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, this program offered at no cost to participants. 

"This group is accepting and I feel comfortable here. While we're here we don't feel like we're broken. We know these are normal reactions to experiences we've had." - Kentucky Army Reserve soldier 

"We can just let our guard down here. Shakespeare pushes things to the surface that we need to deal with." - US Air Force veteran, Operation Desert Storm

"I thought I was an island, but we all have similar feelings." - US Army veteran, Iraq 

Donor Benefits

100% of your donations go toward sustaining this group and funding our performances and outreach. The link below outlines all the benefits of being a Kentucky Shakespeare donor, ranging from playbill inclusion to VIP access and beyond. 

https://kyshakespeare.com/get-involved/donate-2/