Shakespeare Santa Cruz was committed to bringing the experience of Shakespeare to the local Santa Cruz and neighboring communities. The Company of Little Eyases (named after the children’s acting troupe mentioned in Hamlet) was a chance for young local actors, aged eight to fifteen, to perform hour-long renditions of Shakespearean works for other kids, free and open to the public. "Shakespeare to Go" was a full-fledged outreach program started by Shakespeare Santa Cruz in 1988, and in collaboration with the UCSC Theater Arts Department, UCSC students put on a 50-minute version of a play from the upcoming summer festival season. In addition to introducing thousands of junior and high school students to Shakespeare each year through this program, the company staged signed performances of plays (like The Tempest, in 1984), held lectures and discussions, ran a children’s festival, among a host of other festive and educational community events.