“This project has meant consistency to me during the pandemic,” one member wrote. This was a lifesaver for many group members. The COVID-19 pandemic and the worldwide quarantine it created made the Shakespeare 2020 Project one of the few group activities people could still engage in. In March, 2020 took a twist none of us expected. I would have been thrilled if 100 people had joined me, but as 2020 ends, we have a Facebook group of nearly 5,000 members and an email list of about 3,000 members (for a total, given the overlap between the two, of roughly 6,000 members). All were welcome to join our low-pressure reading group. The Shakespeare 2020 Project was a plan to read through the complete works of Shakespeare throughout the year. Just when we all reach that level of frustration where we feel like asking ‘To be or not to be,’ this project reminds us why we all need ‘to be.’” Being ‘trapped’ in our own worlds, it’s been so uplifting to share Shakespeare with others as it reminds me that, despite the quarantine boundaries, we are all still connected by Shakespeare’s universality. “This project has made me feel more connected to others. We asked Ian to return to the blog and reflect on his year of reading Shakespeare with others amid all the turmoil of 2020. Many of our readers said yes! The Shakespeare 2020 Project used the Folger editions of Shakespeare’s works (freely available online), with Ian sharing related images from the Folger’s digital image collection among other resources. Editor’s Note: Shakespeare & Beyond readers may remember Ian Doescher’s announcement in December 2019 that he would be reading through all of Shakespeare’s works in 2020, inviting anyone interested to join him.
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