About
Camp Shakespeare is a two-week residential summer camp where campers spend their days working on lines, characterization, and scenes from Shakespeare’s plays. Daily activities include physical and vocal exercises, morning and afternoon work/play sessions, journal writing, relaxation exercises, quiet time, painting, mask-making, improvised “problem-solving” exercises, singing, dancing, free improvisational play, and watching film sequences of Shakespeare’s plays. Campers also take part in Cabin Time, cabin-cleaning, assigned duties, preparing for the evening, and picnic lunches that are prepared and set out by campers.
• Ages: 11–16 years old
• Schedule: Two-week residential sessions with daily activities beginning at 6:30 a.m. and lights out at 9:15 p.m.; Session I runs June 7–21, 2026, and Session II runs June 28–July 12, 2026
• Price: The cost for Camp Shakespeare 2026 is $1,900, and some scholarships are available
Camp Shakespeare is a two-week University of Texas residential summer camp for young people ages 11–16 dedicated to exploring Shakespeare through performance. All elements of the program are intended to promote an understanding and appreciation of the works of Shakespeare and their vision of human life. Campers develop, test, and transcend their sense of self through their exploration of Shakespearean characters, and the program pursues the conviction that anyone can live life more fully through a personal encounter with Shakespeare’s art. Each session is composed of 14 students, and every moment is treated as performance, with campers challenged to play out their interpretative discoveries on stage. Camp Shakespeare seeks kids who work well with others, who are inventive, elastic, eager to play, explore, and take risks, and are ready to rumble when they arrive. The camp accepts applications from candidates in public, private, or home schools, and experience with theater or Shakespeare is not necessary, but a commitment to working and playing with others is. Each session includes three public performances of each play at multiple venues, including the Crystal Theatre in Gonzales, the Performing Arts Center in La Grange, and the Winedale Barn in Winedale. Every lunch is a picnic prepared and set out by campers, and film sequences of Shakespeare’s plays are included daily.
The daily schedule begins at 6:30 a.m. with cabin-cleaning and other assigned duties, followed by a 7:00 a.m. meeting to work on lines, characterization, or a scene. Morning and afternoon work/play sessions run from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with late afternoon sessions from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and lights out at 9:15 p.m.
The application process includes a registration form, an application with an essay, letters of recommendation for new campers, and a phone or Zoom interview for new campers. One testimonial notes that campers are “kids interested in working together to explore a play through performance,” and that in the process their play becomes a vehicle for their exploration of language, social encounter and problem-solving, self-confidence and self-esteem, verbal and written expression, and gaining insight into the human through Shakespeare.
Last updated July 24, 2026.
• Ages: 11–16 years old
• Schedule: Two-week residential sessions with daily activities beginning at 6:30 a.m. and lights out at 9:15 p.m.; Session I runs June 7–21, 2026, and Session II runs June 28–July 12, 2026
• Price: The cost for Camp Shakespeare 2026 is $1,900, and some scholarships are available
Camp Shakespeare is a two-week University of Texas residential summer camp for young people ages 11–16 dedicated to exploring Shakespeare through performance. All elements of the program are intended to promote an understanding and appreciation of the works of Shakespeare and their vision of human life. Campers develop, test, and transcend their sense of self through their exploration of Shakespearean characters, and the program pursues the conviction that anyone can live life more fully through a personal encounter with Shakespeare’s art. Each session is composed of 14 students, and every moment is treated as performance, with campers challenged to play out their interpretative discoveries on stage. Camp Shakespeare seeks kids who work well with others, who are inventive, elastic, eager to play, explore, and take risks, and are ready to rumble when they arrive. The camp accepts applications from candidates in public, private, or home schools, and experience with theater or Shakespeare is not necessary, but a commitment to working and playing with others is. Each session includes three public performances of each play at multiple venues, including the Crystal Theatre in Gonzales, the Performing Arts Center in La Grange, and the Winedale Barn in Winedale. Every lunch is a picnic prepared and set out by campers, and film sequences of Shakespeare’s plays are included daily.
The daily schedule begins at 6:30 a.m. with cabin-cleaning and other assigned duties, followed by a 7:00 a.m. meeting to work on lines, characterization, or a scene. Morning and afternoon work/play sessions run from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with late afternoon sessions from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and lights out at 9:15 p.m.
The application process includes a registration form, an application with an essay, letters of recommendation for new campers, and a phone or Zoom interview for new campers. One testimonial notes that campers are “kids interested in working together to explore a play through performance,” and that in the process their play becomes a vehicle for their exploration of language, social encounter and problem-solving, self-confidence and self-esteem, verbal and written expression, and gaining insight into the human through Shakespeare.
Last updated July 24, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.