STA 2021: Virtual Conference Pros and Cons

Having survived my first virtual conference, I have to say there were more pros than I thought, although the cons were very substantial. Particularly the doom-scrolling one. I tell you, there is nothing more liable to distract you from an online conference session than watching a bunch of white-supremacist fascist terrorists storming your country’s seat of government in another window.

Consulting pocket dramaturg: Kate Pitt

Regular programming (whatever the hell that is) resumes next week! Stay safe, loyal readers.

STA 2021: Virtual Conference F.A.Q.

Hey all! A slight deviation from our usual programming today. I don’t know why I’m telling you that: I’m literally the only person in the world who knows what my usual programming is supposed to be, BUT ANYWAYS. MOVING ON.

Ahem. I’ve been wonderfully busy the last two weeks attending the Shakespeare Theatre Association’s annual conference. The STA conference is always a highlight of my year, as it’s a chance for me to see some of my very favorite people and to learn from them, but I was oddly unexcited about this year’s conference, which, due to THE THING, was going to be all virtual. Being on Zoom for seven days just didn’t seem very appealing to me.

Of course I was wrong, and it turned out to be a wonderfully inspiring, engaging, and fun experience. As usual, I drew lots of comics documenting my conference experience and, as I struggle to get back to my aforementioned usual programming, I thought I’d share a couple with you here this week.

GTB Play Page Updates: Richard II

Well, we’ve reached the the first play I ever gave the full scene-by-scene treatment: Richard II. As with Coriolanus, I did this rather-less-than-mainstream play early on in my Good Tickle Brain career purely to take advantage of the internet buzz around David Tennant’s stint as Richard II at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the subsequent National Theatre Live screening of that performance.

Anyways, check it and my vague smattering of other Richard II comics here!

Richard II

A collection of Richard II-themed stick-figure comics by Good Tickle Brain.

Shakespearean New Year's Resolutions, part 2 (Remastered)

Let’s keep on updating my past New Year’s Resolutions comics, shall we?

Here is the original:

GTB Play Page Updates: Coriolanus

Time for another play page update! Check out my scene-by-scene adaptation of Coriolanus, as well as a handful of other Coriolanus-related comics .

Coriolanus

A collection of Coriolanus-themed stick-figure comics by Good Tickle Brain.

My scene-by-scenes have definitely improved since this one. I did it really quickly because the Donmar Warehouse production of Coriolanus, starring Tom Hiddleston, was about to be broadcast live by the National Theatre and, as I was still desperately trying to build an audience, I decided to try and capitalize on the occasion.

I’m not desperately trying to build an audience anymore. I’m just trying to get by.

Shakespearean New Year's Resolutions, part 1 (Remastered)

Hey! We made it to 2021! There's still a long, dark tunnel ahead before we can put this pandemic behind us, but at least now there's a light at the end of the tunnel which I don't think is a train.

The first couple months of 2021 are going to consist of remastered versions of old comics and more play page updates, because, frankly, I'm burnt out and have some actual commissions that I've been neglecting for too long. But hopefully things will settle down soon and I can get started on the next play.... whatever it will be.

For now, let’s go waaaaaay back to my first set of Shakespearean New Year’s Resolutions!

As you can see, my style has evolved a bit. Not much, but a bit.

I think we can agree that Hamlet’s resolution is still on point.

Farewell 2020

Well, we made it to the end of what was objectively a ghastly year on many different levels. Time to haul out the inspirational Shakespeare quotes as we look forward to 2021!

Thanks to everyone who helped get me through this year, notably my supporters on Patreon, who have enabled me to donate $4000 this year to food banks and COVID-19 relief funds for theatre artists and underserved communities. Thanks also to my pocket dramaturg, Kate Pitt, for providing me with much-needed long-distance emotional and creative support as I struggled through A Stick-Figure Hamlet. Thanks to my climbing partner and my yoga teacher for keeping me active and helping me feel connected despite not being able to move together in the same space anymore. And thanks to my parents for literally everything else.

And thanks to you for following Good Tickle Brain. Without you, I’d just be screaming into the void.

Here’s to better years to come.

Shakespearean Christmas Carols, part 7

Time for another Shakespearean Christmas carol! (This is for you, Michael Bahr.)

Consulting pocket dramaturg: Kate Pitt

To be honest, I’ve always felt that “Carol of the Bells” sounds like someone turned a panic attack into a song. Pretty sure my blood pressure was elevated while I was working on this. Gonna go chill out to some “Silent Night” now.

For more Shakespearean Christmas carols, check out the Good Tickle Brain Holiday Songbook!

I’m taking next week off but I’ll see you back here when the new year FINALLY rolls around.