The Shakespeare Schools Festival – the UK’s largest youth drama project – has launched its tenth anniversary season at Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan.
Since 2000 the charity has been using the genius of Shakespeare to bridge the attainment gap, training teachers as directors and giving young people of every background and ability the opportunity to perform plays in their local professional theatres. Over the autumn 650 schools from Scotland to the Channel Islands will perform half hour adaptations of some of the world’s best literature in 80 professional theatres.
Since the Millennium the Shakespeare Schools Festival has transformed the lives of thousands of young people who have learnt articulacy, built self-confidence and team work and gained knowledge to take back to their academic studies.
Theatr Mwldan is delighted to host performances from numerous schools from across the region. For schools and plays see attached list.
SSF is partnered by the National Theatre and National Youth Theatre who run workshops for the teachers and young people involved.
Each school will give Shakespeare’s plays their own particular twist. There’s a football-themed Othello with a Wayne Bridges-John Terry situation; Romeo and Juliet set against the backdrop of Sectarianism in Glasgow; a girls’ school exploring a contemporary reversal of The Taming of the Shrew with the ladies chasing and ‘taming’ the lads, governed by an over protective mother; the Scottish play with Macbeth and others vying to be head DJ at a night club and the final battle as a dance off; and A Midsummer Night’s Dream adapted to Halloween.
This is the 5th Festival for some teacher directors and they are keen to share the opportunity with others. One teacher is training up five student directors, each responsible for one fifth of Henry V. A student director speaks: “In a play about leadership we also had to learn leadership skills ourselves so that we could handle the cast and get our ideas across… but we had to also work together to come up with an overall concept. The person who found this hardest was our teacher but then all teachers are control freaks aren’t they?”
Commenting on the 2010 season, Festival Director Chris Grace, said:
“I look forward immensely to seeing what the students and their directors have dreamt up for us this year. As report after report paints this country as a difficult place to grow up in and engage positively with society, our charity offers a creative solution; through this country’s greatest literature we harness and channel our young people’s natural aptitude for imagination and team-work. Through workshops and performance they build communities within their school, as well as between local schools, and develop a sense of self-worth for themselves. Grades improve and horizons shift and expand. Experiencing Shakespeare helps makes sense of the world.”
Previous participants have praised the life-changing nature of the charity’s work:
TEACHERS
“SSF has proved the most challenging and rewarding experience in a long teaching career.” Teacher, Hillcrest School
“The sense of achievement the pupils felt was overwhelming and was echoed again and again by the pupils repeatedly saying “we did it,” for a considerable time afterwards. It is with this sentiment in mind that leads me to say that I would thoroughly recommend any school to get involved in this amazing opportunity. My pupils and I benefited immeasurably from it.” Teacher, Castledon School
STUDENTS
“Anyone that says that Shakespeare is rubbish needs to see our production of Julius Caesar. Revenge, murder, jealousy and corruption; it’s better than the best episode of Eastenders!” Student, Morpeth School, Stepney Green
“SSF opened a door that you have to step through. Just going to school and coming home isn’t enough…. Taking an opportunity like this, you never know where it’s going to go. Going out and grabbing opportunities – this has been that.” Student, Mill Hill County High
“At the beginning I thought this play was going to be rubbish, but I would recommend SSF 150%. Before I done Othello I used to speak a lot of slang and everything… because the words are slightly different and sound so posh it makes every vowel, every word, every letter matter. My diction got better and my confidence grew. In English I am studying Macbeth and now I’ve got an advantage. When the teacher says ‘what does this mean?’ it is easy because now I have been in that position before.” Student, Highbury Grove School, Islington
SPECIAL SCHOOL PARTICIPATION
“You see the parent in the audience crying because they’re deeply moved to see their child’s potential unlocked in a new way.” Teacher, Samuel Cody Special School
“We are so proud of their performance, but we are also thrilled and excited that the new skills they have learnt and the confidence they have gained will last for much longer than one night – SSF has helped our young people to look to the future.” Teacher, Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee School
Since the Millennium, the charity has provided the logistical and financial support to enable 90,000 young people from 4,428 schools to perform in 250 theatres. The charity’s inclusive ethos is integral to its professional support for teachers with little or no experience of directing Shakespeare, and its empowerment of students from all backgrounds and abilities. SSF also links with a network of schools internationally.
