About Shakespeare schools festival
Shakespeare Schools Festival: Bringing Shakespeare to Life for Young Minds
Shakespeare is one of the most celebrated playwrights in history, and his works continue to inspire and captivate audiences around the world. However, for many young people, Shakespeare can seem daunting and inaccessible. That's where the Shakespeare Schools Festival comes in.
The Shakespeare Schools Festival is a UK-based charity that aims to bring Shakespeare's plays to life for young people by giving them the opportunity to perform on stage. Founded in 2000, the festival has grown from a small pilot project into a nationwide event that involves over 1,000 schools each year.
The festival works by providing participating schools with a specially adapted version of one of Shakespeare's plays. The students then work with professional directors and actors to rehearse their scenes before performing them on stage at local theatres. Each school performs their own unique interpretation of the play, bringing their own creativity and flair to the performance.
One of the key aims of the festival is to make Shakespeare accessible and relevant for young people today. By encouraging students to engage with his works through performance, they are able to develop an understanding and appreciation for his writing that goes beyond simply reading it in a classroom.
But it's not just about performing on stage - there are also opportunities for students who want to get involved behind-the-scenes as well. From costume design and set building, through to marketing and publicity, there are plenty of ways for students with different interests and skills sets to get involved.
The benefits of participating in the festival are numerous. For starters, it helps build confidence - performing on stage can be nerve-wracking but also incredibly rewarding when done well! It also encourages teamwork - putting together a successful production requires everyone working together towards a common goal.
But perhaps most importantly, it helps develop an appreciation for literature and culture that will stay with these young people throughout their lives. By engaging with Shakespeare's plays in a meaningful way, they are able to see the relevance and importance of his writing in today's world.
The festival has received widespread acclaim for its work, with many schools reporting significant improvements in student engagement and attainment as a result of participating. It has also been recognised by the UK government as an important cultural initiative, receiving funding from the Department for Education.
So if you're a teacher or parent looking for ways to engage young people with Shakespeare's works, look no further than the Shakespeare Schools Festival. With its unique approach to performance-based learning, it is sure to inspire and captivate young minds for years to come.