[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Santa Barbara High School educator Patricia Ruth has a long-standing collaboration with Bright Torches, a dynamic organization dedicated to making Shakespeare accessible and engaging for young learners. With 26 years of experience, Ruth has seen how Bright Torches has revolutionized her students’ understanding of Shakespeare and deepened their engagement with complex literary concepts. Through a hands-on, performance-based approach, Ruth has seen firsthand how Bright Torches has helped her students connect meaningfully with Shakespeare’s works and the human experience at its core.

Bright Torches, founded by former actors of the prestigious Globe Theatre in London, uses dynamic, hands-on approaches to teaching Shakespeare through live performances and acting workshops. The annual residency is part of a broader initiative funded by Sara Miller McCune through the Léni Fund, a Santa Barbara Education Foundation program that supports and encourages student participation and exposure to performing arts programs in Santa Barbara.

Ruth began working with Bright Torches in 2016 when the organization first brought its Shakespeare-focused educational program to Santa Barbara. A Shakespeare enthusiast, Ruth jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with the company. “When I heard that Bright Torches was coming to Santa Barbara, I knew I had to be a part of it,” says Ruth.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Ruth emphasizes the importance of teaching Shakespeare through performance, a philosophy that aligns with Bright Torches’ mission. She believes the traditional method of asking students to read the plays on their own falls short. “Shakespeare’s plays were never meant to be read in isolation; they were meant to be acted out. That’s how you truly grasp the material.”
Since introducing Bright Torches’ performance-based workshops, Ruth has seen a dramatic shift in how her students engage with Shakespeare. “When students physically act out the scenes, they begin to understand things like meter or rhythm in a way they just can’t when reading silently. They start to see how the lines flow, like music, and they get the beats. It’s not just a theoretical exercise anymore—it’s a full-body, immersive experience.”

The partnership with Bright Torches has enhanced her students’ understanding of Shakespeare and reshaped how they engage with literature and the world around them. “Literature isn’t just about reading words; it’s about understanding the human experience, emotions, and motivations. Through performance, students learn to interpret characters and read between the lines.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][nectar_single_testimonial testimonial_style=”basic” text_color=”#000000″ quote=”“Literature isn’t just about reading words; it’s about understanding the human experience, emotions, and motivations. Through performance, students learn to interpret characters and read between the lines“” name=”Patricia Ruth” subtitle=”Teacher, Santa Barbara High School”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]She also sees the impact beyond the classroom. By physically engaging with the material, students develop critical thinking, empathy, and effective communication skills. “These experiences shape them as more thoughtful and articulate individuals. They’re learning to read the world in a deeper, more meaningful way.”

As Ruth puts it, “When you act out Shakespeare, you don’t just learn the lines, you live them. And that makes all the difference.

Bright Torches will return in April for a rare second residency this year. For more information about this exciting program and other performing arts initiatives funded by the Léni Fund at the Santa Barbara Education Foundation, contact SBEF Programs Manager Katie Szopa at ka***@*****************************on.org. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][/vc_column][/vc_row]