Performing Shakespeare with Shakespeare Birthplace Trust – Liverpool Schools
This summer term presented another wonderful opportunity to partner with Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, in sharing the joy of Shakespeare’s plays with some of their hub schools.
Working with St Michael and All Angels Primary, Knowsley, Meadow Park School, Knowsley, Beacon CE Primary, Liverpool, Bishop Martin Primary School, Liverpool and Fender Primary School, Wirral, children imagined their own versions of key characters and brought these to life in some pivotal moments in the plot, exploring motivation and emotional response.
Some schools chose to finish with a poetry-writing activity, where pupls celebrated characters they had ‘met’ in verse. Others opted for a performance-based outcome, with children creating and sharing choral-speaking versions of speeches from their chosen play – and one school used their day to put together an outdoor (abridged) performance of The Tempest!
As ever, it was a delight to work with Shakespeare Birthplace Trust on this – and to see so many children engaging with such energy in Shakespeare’s timeless stories!
Find out more about the work of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust at; www.shakespeare.org.uk/education/
“Our workshop day was, quite frankly, magical. The way in which Jo built relationships, engaged with the children and then brought The Tempest to life was incredible. Every child, including those who have never taken part in any drama or have anxiety participating,were thoroughly engaged.
It takes a special person and highly specialist skills to be able to engage children with SEND and SEMH needs. Jo has passion, energy, empathy and that ‘certain sparkle’ in droves. She created a safe environment where pupils felt included and able to take risks and join in. The children loved her and loved Shakespeare because of her!”
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust workshops, Meadow Park School, Knowsley
Shakespeare Workshops
Read about our previous work with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Related Shakespeare Workshops
New! Performing Shakespeare with Jo Stokes
A four day programme which will see a group of pupils working towards an audience-ready peformance of one of Shakespeare’s plays.
Spotlight on Shakespeare
This workshop takes students right through the play, exploring the backstory, meeting the main characters and bringing key moments to life.
The Poetry of Shakespeare
This engaging activity puts them centre stage by bringing out both the visible and the invisible.