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College News
28 April 2004
Royal Holloway brings Shakespeare to Egypt
Kiernan Ryan, Professor of English at Royal Holloway University of London,
gave an inspiring address at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina recently, in
what was one of several exciting events marking the inauguration of
Egypt's flagship library.
Guest speaker Professor Ryan captivated the audience with his keynote lecture Global Shakespeare: the Politics of Appropriation, and was interviewed afterwards by Egyptian television about his innovative take on the Bard as a radical, prophetic visionary. The library's Director, Ismail Serageldin, former Vice President of the World Bank and an avid fan of Professor Ryan's work, has proposed that an annual international Shakespeare conference take place at the library, an event in which Professor Ryan will play a key consultative role.
"Shakespeare's drama speaks a language that everyone can understand. His plays possess an extraordinary ability to travel through time and cross every cultural boundary, bringing even the most divided worlds into dialogue with each other." said Professor Ryan. "We hope that these conferences will help to forge an active academic dialogue between Britain and Egypt."
An internationally renowned Shakespeare scholar, Professor Ryan is the author of numerous critical works on Shakespeare, and has lectured on the subject worldwide, as well as contributing to arts programmes on Shakespeare on the BBC. He also designed and directs the thriving Shakespeare MA launched at Royal Holloway in 1998.
Offering a range of exclusive Shakespeare courses, the English Department at the College is one of the most dynamic in the country, and was awarded a 5* rating in the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in 2001. The Department is also home to the prestigious national English Subject Centre, which drives innovation in the teaching of English in Higher Education throughout the UK.
The potential collaboration between Royal Holloway's English Department and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina signifies an important academic link between England and Egypt. A path-breaking, liberal institution committed to democratizing access to learning, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina aims to be Egypt's 'window on the world'. Re-opened in 2002, the new library is built on the same site as the original which was destroyed 1600 years ago, and which had been a place where philosophers, poets, scientists and mathematicians came to study and exchange ideas. It is hoped that the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina will capture the spirit of the original as a centre of intellectual excellence. It was designed by innovative Norwegian architects and comprises numerous specialised libraries with AV materials, rare books, art galleries, a conference centre and seven research institutes.
For further information on the Royal Holloway English Department and its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, visit: www.rhul.ac.uk/english To find out more about the Bibliotheca Alexandrina visit www.bibalex.org/newwebsite/
ENDS
For further information contact
Royal Holloway, University of London, Press Office:
Christine Long, Press & PR Officer 01784 443967, email: christine.long@rhul.ac.uk
Vicky Cousins, Assistant
Press & Communications Officer
01784 414480, email: victoria.cousins@rhul.ac.uk
