Bard's Arcana

Bard's Arcana - Shakespeare characters as tarot archetypes

Not every tarot deck sees The Lovers as an abstract couple. In Bard's Arcana, Romeo and Juliet stand on that card, with a quote from the play printed below. It is a principle that runs through all 78 cards: characters and scenes from the work of William Shakespeare translate the classical Waite-Smith symbolism into a theatrical universe.

Greg Taubman, theatre director and dramaturg, designed the concept. Eunice Choi illustrated the cards using a mix of etching and watercolour. The result is a deck that weaves together tarot and theatre without letting go of the structure of the classical arcana.

What you see on the cards

Each card shows a character or scene from a specific play. The Fool, The Magician, The Lovers: they follow the traditional sequence, but are embodied by figures from comedies, tragedies and history plays. The card backs are based on the wrought-iron gate of Shakespeare's Globe in London.

The quotes beneath the images are not decoration. They give context and depth to the card. That also means you need some affinity with English to read the deck fully.

The cardstock is thick, 350 gsm, with a matte finish that feels soft. The cards are standard size, roughly 70 x 120 mm, which makes shuffling easy.

Who this deck works for

This deck is designed for people who take both tarot and literature seriously. The 120-page guidebook contains background information on each character and each quote, but assumes you are interested in context and connections. Prior knowledge of Shakespeare is not required, but curiosity is.

The guidebook also describes specific spreads: Comedy, Tragedy and Sonnet. They use the structure of theatrical genres to explore questions. They are not quick reading methods, but tools for those who want to take their time.

Pull one card, read the quote aloud and notice what the character is doing in that scene. Often the meaning sits in the action, not in the words.

About Greg Taubman and Eunice Choi

Greg Taubman works as a theatre director and dramaturg with several companies. His knowledge of the texts and the characters forms the foundation of this deck.

Eunice Choi is an illustrator who works with traditional techniques such as etching and watercolour. Her visual language for Bard's Arcana feels classical without becoming dated.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78 (22 Major Arcana + 56 Minor Arcana)
• Card size: approx. 70 x 120 mm
• Cardstock weight: 350 gsm
• Finish: Silky matte coating
• Guidebook: 120 pages
• Language: English
• Design: Greg Taubman
• Illustrations: Eunice Choi

Questions we often get

Do I need to have read Shakespeare to use this deck?
No. The guidebook gives context for each character and each quote. What does help is an interest in the stories and the characters, because that is what the deck revolves around.

How does this deck differ from a classical Waite-Smith deck?
The structure and symbolism remain the same, but the figures have been replaced by Shakespeare characters. The quotes add an extra layer of meaning that you will not find in a traditional deck.