• More More

Search

My Account Logout
  • other
  • instagram
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • youtube
  • other
  • NEWS + FEATURES
    • THE LATEST
    • AHSOKA
    • COMMUNITY
    • QUIZZES + POLLS
    • BOOKS + COMICS
    • RECIPES
  • VIDEO
    • ALL VIDEO
    • THIS WEEK! IN STAR WARS
  • FILMS
  • SERIES
    • All Series
    • Ahsoka
    • The Mandalorian
    • Andor
    • The Bad Batch
    • Star Wars Rebels
  • GAMES + INTERACTIVE
    • View All
    • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
    • Games + Apps
    • VR + Immersive
  • DATABANK
    • ALL DATABANK
    • ERAS
  • DISNEY+
    • STREAM NOW
    • EXPLORE
    • THE DISNEY BUNDLE
  • More More
My Account Logout
  • other
  • instagram
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • youtube
  • other

ALL OF YOUR STAR WARS FAVORITES NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY+

All

  • Ahsoka
  • Andor
  • Behind the Scenes
  • Books + Comics
  • Characters + Histories
  • Collecting
  • Creativity
  • Disney Parks
  • Disney+
  • Events
  • Fans + Community
  • Films
  • Force For Change
  • Forces of Destiny
  • Galaxy of Adventures
  • Games + Apps
  • ILMxLAB
  • In Pop Culture
  • Interviews
  • LEGO Star Wars
  • Lucasfilm
  • Merchandise
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi
  • Opinions
  • Quizzes + Polls
  • Recipes
  • Rogue One
  • Solo
  • Star Wars Celebration
  • Star Wars Day
  • Star Wars Rebels
  • Star Wars Resistance
  • Television
  • The Bad Batch
  • The Book of Boba Fett
  • The Clone Wars
  • The Force Awakens
  • The High Republic
  • The Last Jedi
  • The Mandalorian
  • The Rise of Skywalker
  • The Star Wars Show
  • Visions
{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"Interviews", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/interviews"}

Studying Skywalkers: Talking with William Shakespeare’s Star Wars Author Ian Doescher

October 7, 2015
October 7, 2015
Dan Zehr

"Do. Or do not." "To be, or not to be." StarWars.com checks in with the author who mashed up the worlds of Shakespeare and Lucas.

Studying Skywalkers is an exclusive column that investigates the characters, themes, and lessons of Star Wars from an educational, literary perspective. In this installment, StarWars.com looks at Ian Doescher’s book tour for Tragedy of the Sith’s Revenge.

When William Shakespeare’s Star Wars first appeared in July of 2013, audiences were delighted to discover that the work of George Lucas was being interpreted in Shakespearean language. Author Ian Doescher had the idea of taking the Star Wars films and adapting them in perfect iambic pentameter (as well as other styles of poetry). The results set the publishing world ablaze, and managed to please both fans of Star Wars as well as lovers of Shakespeare. Multiple New York Times bestsellers later, Ian has embarked on a multiple city tour to promote the latest book in the series, Tragedy of the Sith’s Revenge, Star Wars Part the Third.

Ian Doescher

Fans of these wonderful books got the chance to meet Ian Doescher recently in St. Louis, Missouri, as he read some passages from the new book at Left Bank Books. Ian read some passages, answered questions, signed copies of his books, and performed with some of the talented actors from St. Louis Shakespeare. It was a wonderful evening, full of smiles and laughter, and an excellent example of how beautifully the works of Star Wars and Shakespeare complement one another.

The performances from the St. Louis Shakespeare were a true delight, as the attendees were treated to multiple scenes from Tragedy of the Sith’s Revenge. The actors were brilliant and hilarious, and regaled audiences with a special appearance from Kermit the frog, who with a little help from lettuce leaves, took on the role of Yoda. They closed with Anakin and Palpatine’s conversation at the opera, and it was an incredible display of acting prowess and Doescher’s poetic language. If you ever get a chance to see Ian’s work performed live, it is a real treat, particularly with talented actors like this group.

Ian Doescher book tour

I spoke with Ian about the event, as well as his experiences on the tour.

StarWars.com: This venue featured as many Shakespeare fans as Star Wars fans; how was this experience unique?

Ian Doescher: It's always a unique experience to have both Shakespeare people and Star Wars people in an audience. My book events often skew one way or the other -- I'm speaking at a comic con for a lot of Star Wars fans, or at a Shakespeare festival for theater types. When an audience contains both types, it's electric. People are engaged on both sides of the mashup, which is truly the ideal situation. I did my best, in writing these books, to give equal honor to Star Wars and Shakespeare, so to be at a reading where people are enjoying both is gratifying for me as an author.

StarWars.com: Why are Star Wars and Shakespeare such a perfect fit?

Ian Doescher: There are so many themes that make Star Wars and Shakespeare perfect for each other: larger-than-life tragic figures like King Lear and Darth Vader, young people seeking out their destinies, like Luke and Leia and all of Shakespeare's lovers, interesting father-son relationships (Hamlet/King Hamlet and Luke/Vader), comic side characters like Rosencrantz and Guidenstern or R2-D2 and C-3PO. The movies are also roughly the length of a Shakespeare play -- a little over two hours -- so that works, too.  If Shakespeare were alive today, I think he would be writing the popular stories of the day. Namely, something a bit like Star Wars.

Left Bank Books was the perfect venue to enjoy Ian Doescher’s approach to Star Wars through Shakespearean language. The books are as much fun to see performed as they are to read. Be sure to check out Ian’s book tour here, and live the books with the author.

  • Yoda and Anakin Skywalker in The Tragedy of the Sith's Revenge
    37_credit Nicolas Delort
    Image credit: Nicolas Delort of
    37_credit Nicolas Delort
    Image credit: Nicolas Delort of
  • General Grievous in The Tragedy of the Sith's Revenge
    32_credit Nicolas Delort
    Image credit: Nicolas Delort of
    32_credit Nicolas Delort
    Image credit: Nicolas Delort of
  • R2-D2 and super battle droids in The Tragedy of the Sith's Revenge
    21_credit Nicolas Delort
    Image credit: Nicolas Delort of
    21_credit Nicolas Delort
    Image credit: Nicolas Delort of
  • Dan Zehr is a high school English teacher with an MS in Teaching and Learning, and runs Coffee With Kenobi (with co-host Cory Clubb), a Star Wars Podcast that analyzes the saga through critical thinking, analysis, interviews, and discussion. He is also a member of the Rogues (as Blue Leader), a network of teachers that incorporate Star Wars in the Classroom.

    shakespeare star wars Ian Doescher

    Related Stories

  • {:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"The High Republic", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-high-republic"}

    From the Pages of Star Wars Insider: A New Mission Begins in an Original Star Wars: The High Republic Tale

    October 30, 2023

    October 30, 2023

    Oct 30

  • {:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"The High Republic", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-high-republic"}

    Elzar Mann Mourns Stellan Gios in The Eye of Darkness — First Excerpt

    October 18, 2023

    October 18, 2023

    Oct 18

  • {:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"}

    Cavan Scott on the Ghoulactic Horrors of Tales from the Death Star

    October 17, 2023

    October 17, 2023

    Oct 17

  • {:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"Events", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/events"}

    NYCC 2023: 13 Highlights from the Lucasfilm Publishing Panel

    October 15, 2023

    October 15, 2023

    Oct 15

  • {:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"Solo", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/solo"}

    5 Behind-the-Pages Secrets of Star Wars: Crimson Climb

    October 10, 2023

    October 10, 2023

    Oct 10

  • {:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"The High Republic", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-high-republic"}

    Jedi Master Keeve Trennis Returns in Marvel's Star Wars: The High Republic #1 – Exclusive Reveal

    October 4, 2023

    October 4, 2023

    Oct 4

  • {:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"Events", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/events"}

    Celebrate Star Wars Reads This October!

    October 1, 2023

    October 1, 2023

    Oct 1

  • {:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"Star Wars Rebels", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/star-wars-rebels"}

    Marvel to Celebrate 10th Anniversary of Star Wars Rebels with Special Variant Covers - Exclusive Reveal

    September 27, 2023

    September 27, 2023

    Sep 27

  • More From Star Wars:
    • TikTok
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Youtube
    • SWKids
    • Terms of Use
    • Additional Content Information
    • Privacy Policy
    • Children's Online Privacy Policy
    • Your US State Privacy Rights
    • Star Wars at shopDisney
    • Star Wars Helpdesk
    • Interest-Based Ads
    • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved