The RADA Shakespeare Awards offer a unique learning experience, where one-to-one rehearsal style assessments allow students to develop their performance and understanding of Shakespeare's plays. The RADA tutor plays the role of collaborator, working with the student to get the most out of their performance.
It doesn't matter if your class are new to performing Shakespeare, or whether they have years of experience, there is an entry point for everyone. Students start with the Messenger Award (12+) or Bronze Award (15+) for £45. After completing the Messenger or Bronze Award, students move on to Silver (£60), Gold (£95) and then Platinum (£120), each Award increasing in difficulty and length. Fun and creative, they offer a more personal alternative to standard assessments.
The Shakespeare awards are available both to students in schools and independent private tutors. A RADA tutor will visit schools and drama groups to assess multiple candidates as part of a bespoke Awards assessment day.
During the fifteen-minute Messenger Award there is a real spirit of development. Students perform two prepared speeches and receive individual feedback on each, including ideas for developing their performance. The student is then given the opportunity to respond to the creative suggestions and put their learning into practice by performing one of their speeches again.
Sonny Chatters, a 17-year-old Awards participant from Essex, says of the experience, ‘I had never really done Shakespeare in any depth outside of school and I wanted to see if the man deserved the amount of credit he was given. I enjoyed the use of language, how the rhythm of the words is completely different to how we speak normally. It feels completely unique! The biggest challenge with the Awards was going from having little experience with Shakespeare to then performing it in front of the RADA tutor […] It has given me opportunities to connect with people I otherwise wouldn't have met and has helped me greatly with my confidence and public speaking.’
The Awards are concluded with a Platinum Award that offers great depth and breadth. Students ‘pitch’ a Shakespeare production, perform two contrasting speeches of their own choosing, and sight-read a speech chosen by their tutor, after 15 minutes of preparation time. They also submit an essay, before the assessment, on an archive video recording of a Shakespeare play, chosen by the RADA tutor.
Lisa Hagan, director of English says, ‘The programme allows young people to find confidence in their voices. It utilises the universal experiences within Shakespeare's stories, encouraging young people to connect, across hundreds of years, with the emotions felt in common human experiences – we all experience love, laughter and tragedy. The Shakespeare Awards do not allow the complexity of his language to prevent young people from experiencing its mastery.’
Practical workshops for students are also available before the Awards. These can help students get the most out of their experience. They will develop their understanding of Shakespeare's language and explore connections to his plays. Furthermore, workshops are available for teachers helping students prepare for their Award. These offer practical exercises and discussions to help inspire your teaching.
Ciara Phelan, Co-Director at Arclight Drama Studio, Dublin, says: ‘The students who take part in the Awards gain an enhanced view of Shakespeare, the works coming alive before their very eyes – which isn't possible from purely reading the plays or sonnets. Taking part in the Awards allows students to explore the works as an actor and opens them up to the wonder and beauty of Shakespeare in action.’
The RADA Shakespeare Awards are a fantastic opportunity for young people and teachers to challenge themselves. The collaborative and supportive assessment model puts the spirit of development at the heart of the Awards, allowing Shakespeare to be unlocked for a whole new generation.