Third Form had some time in wonderful workshops with a theatre practitioner from West End In Schools on Tuesday 10 February. This workshop was focused on Shakespeare and particularly ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ as an introduction before their study of the play next half term.
It was clear that most pupils understood the plot of the play – some having acted in it recently. What was brilliant to see was the way the characters and words were then brought to life through the day. Pupils’ knowledge was tested and stretched with their discussion of Shakespeare’s context: no girls on stage and lack of sound and lighting effects.
Then pupils took key lines for characters and thought about how they reflected characteristics or emotions of those characters. They were challenged to look beyond cliché and stereotype to really think about how they might feel or act in certain situations. Movement was refined and freeze frames were created that exaggerated characters or drew them back to realistic portrayals. It was amazing to see pupils realise that these characters were relevant to their lives and see Shakespeare evolve into today’s world.
This developed into thinking about themes like equality and subservience and how these may look different in varying circumstances. In exploring the relationships between characters, pupils were able to see the ways anger is expressed at different moments, how jealousy or power dynamics shift the way we speak and interact. In looking at the breakdown of the friendships and the misunderstandings, pupils’ appreciation of the humour and dynamism of Shakespeare’s plays really developed.
What a fantastic way for pupils to begin their engagement with Shakespeare plays at secondary level!
