Early next year, the group will present "Isang Dosenang Soneta," a concert series featuring Shakespeare’s sonnets as songs. More Shakespeare from PETA William is only the first of PETA’s offerings for their Shakespeare-centric season. Legarda, meanwhile, said she is planning to feature other literary icons to “take away the fear" of studying classic literature. Arsete said that PETA didn’t just want to make Shakespeare accessible to younger people the group also wanted to encourage the reading of classics in general. John Tan of Urban Dance Crew choreographed the rap numbers, featuring hip-hop dance steps such as crumping, breakdance, ballroom and jazz hip-hop. “Nosebleed," “O Shakespear," and “What’s In A Name," are only some of the songs that mix together different music genres such as rock, soul, and rhythm and blues, according to BBC.
“He did a wonderful job of writing the songs-even if he isn’t a rap fan himself," said Legarda. “Learning begins when fear is absent," explained Legarda.Ĭourtesy of PETA The play features ten original rap songs composed by Jeff Hernandez. Packaging Shakespeare in an art form that's familiar to the younger set also helped move PETA’s goals forward: to make Shakespeare a “'relatable ‘peer’ whose works speak of issues which the youth can relate to," according to the BBC report. “ was bagay-in many ways, rap is poetry," said Legarda. The concept of the rap musical about Shakespeare was inspired by a Fliptop event - or Pinoy rap battle league - that Legarda attended. “It’s sort of an overview, a Shakespeare 101," she added.
Legarda said "William" was the perfect opening play for PETA’s current season, which is centered on Shakespeare. “Some older people say they wished something like William came out when they were younger so they would have appreciated Shakespeare’s work earlier," she told GMA News Online in a telephone interview. Leloi Arsete of PETA’s public relations office said that parents have also expressed their appreciation. But if reviews and comments from those who’ve seen William are to be believed, the young ones aren’t alone in their love for the play. Courtesy of PETAThe BBC report adds, “the musical touches on themes of adolescence, parents' unconditional love and friendship and promotes respect for teachers and classmates, and advocates love for reading and appreciating literature-Shakespeare or not." Erasing Shakespeare-phobia The rap musical, BBC reported, is PETA’s way of helping the young appreciate the English poet and playwright.