Speak Like Shakespeare: Timeless Public Speaking Lessons from the Bard
- Mark Westbrook
- Mar 22
- 5 min read
Introduction: Why the Bard Still Matters in Public Speaking
You might not think your upcoming presentation has anything in common with Hamlet or King Lear. But if you’ve ever worried about holding an audience’s attention, making your message memorable, or delivering your speech with real conviction — you’ve got more in common with Shakespearean performers than you might realise.
For all his literary brilliance, Shakespeare was also a craftsman of the spoken word. He understood how rhythm, structure, and emotional authenticity could electrify a room — long before PowerPoint was invented.
In this blog, we’ll explore how the works of William Shakespeare can elevate your public speaking — whether you're a nervous first-timer or an experienced speaker looking for an edge. We’ll unpack techniques used in his plays and show you how to apply them in meetings, presentations, or on stage.
1. Words That Live: The Art of Language with Impact
Shakespeare didn’t just write for the eye — he wrote for the ear. His lines sound like they mean something. Whether thunderous or tender, his speeches pulse with energy, clarity, and rhythm.
“Now is the winter of our discontentMade glorious summer by this sun of York.”
These lines from Richard III resonate not only because of their poetic quality but because of their clarity of emotion. Shakespeare understood that the right turn of phrase can sear itself into the listener’s mind.
Modern Application: Use vivid, precise language
Speakers often hide behind jargon or ramble without focus. Instead, aim for language that paints pictures. If you want to say “sales are down,” say, “We’ve lost momentum — we’re pedalling hard but getting nowhere.” It sticks.
Exercise: Rewriting for Resonance
Take a sentence from your next talk and rewrite it three times:
Once with imagery
Once with rhythm
Once with metaphor
Choose the one that feels most alive.
2. Emotional Connection: Leading with Humanity
Shakespeare’s characters are flawed, layered, and emotional — and audiences love them for it. Think of Othello’s jealousy, Lear’s heartbreak, or Juliet’s youthful yearning. These moments work because they’re human.
Too many speakers strip emotion from their delivery in favour of “professionalism”. But if your audience can’t feel it, they won’t believe it.
“Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.” — King Lear
Modern Application: Let them see the real you
Whether you’re sharing results or leading a workshop, emotion is your ally. A quiver in the voice, a moment of silence, or a genuine smile can make your words land more deeply than a data point ever will.
Exercise: Find the emotional core
Before your next talk, ask: What am I feeling about this? What do I want them to feel? Build your message around that emotional truth.
3. Structure Like a Scene: The Power of Progression
Every Shakespeare scene moves. It begins in one emotional or thematic state and ends in another. Something changes — and that change is what makes it compelling.
In Macbeth, a moment of doubt becomes a resolve to murder.In The Tempest, confrontation becomes forgiveness.
Modern Application: Build your speech as a journey
Many speakers meander. Great speakers create movement. Start with a question or problem, build tension or curiosity, then deliver insight or transformation.
Think of your speech as having:
A hook (to draw them in)
A build-up (to deepen the stakes)
A turning point (the moment of insight)
A resolution (a call to action or final thought)
Exercise: The Turning Point Map
Write out your next speech idea in four steps:
Where we are
What’s not working
The big insight
What we do next
4. The Stage Is a Tool: Movement and Gesture
Shakespeare’s actors used their bodies to speak. With no microphones and minimal props, gesture, stance, and movement became storytelling tools.
Today’s speakers too often ignore their physical presence — either pacing nervously or freezing in one spot.
Modern Application: Use your body with intention
Stillness = authority
Gesture = emphasis
Movement = transition
If you shift position, let it mark a new idea. If you raise your hands, let them underline a key point.
Exercise: Gesture with your message
Rehearse a section of your speech and match each main point with a deliberate physical gesture. It might feel exaggerated at first — but it will look natural to your audience.
5. Confidence Isn’t a Trait — It’s a Role
Let’s be honest: many speakers feel like imposters. But Shakespeare’s actors became kings, lovers, or generals the moment they walked on stage.
You don’t have to feel like a confident speaker to deliver like one. Sometimes, confidence is a performance — and that’s okay.
“All the world’s a stage,And all the men and women merely players.” — As You Like It
Modern Application: Step into your speaking role
You don’t need to pretend to be someone else. But you can adopt a version of yourself who owns the room — who believes in their message, who is worth listening to.
Exercise: The Speaking Persona
Design a speaking version of yourself. What do they wear? How do they enter a room? How do they speak? Channel that version in moments of doubt.
6. Silence, Pace, and Pause: The Power of Timing
Shakespeare used silences as powerfully as speeches. A pause before “Et tu, Brute?” carries the weight of betrayal. A delay before “I am Fortune’s fool!” in Romeo and Juliet can amplify the emotional chaos.
Modern speakers often rush. But silence draws in attention.
Modern Application: Use pause to command the room
Pause before a key point to create anticipation.
Pause after to let it land.
Vary your pace to mirror emotional shifts.
Exercise: Mark the pauses
In your script or notes, underline two or three points where silence will have the most impact. Practise those pauses until they feel comfortable.
Conclusion: The Bard’s Voice in Yours
William Shakespeare has been quoted for over 400 years not just because he was clever — but because he understood people. He understood how to make an audience lean in, feel, reflect, and remember.
You don’t need to wear a doublet or write in iambic pentameter to learn from him. You just need to:
Speak with clarity and colour
Lead with emotional honesty
Structure your message with movement
Use your body as part of the message
Embrace the role of a confident speaker
Ready to Speak Like You Mean It?
If this resonated with you — if you know there’s a powerful speaker inside you waiting to emerge — it’s time to take the next step.
Why Coaching Makes the Difference
Public speaking isn’t a talent. It’s a skill. And like any skill, it improves faster with feedback, encouragement, and expert guidance. Coaching helps you:
Find your voice and sharpen your message
Rehearse with confidence and conviction
Move from anxious to assured — without pretending to be someone you’re not
Whether you’re preparing for a career-defining presentation or simply want to feel more at ease speaking up in meetings, personalised coaching accelerates your growth — and makes it stick.
Let’s Begin
Reach out for a free discovery call. Together, we’ll explore your speaking goals, identify your strengths, and create a practical path forward.
You’ve got something worth saying. Let’s make sure it’s heard — and remembered.
Mark - Public Speaking Coach Scotland
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