An unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractised; happy in this, she is not yet so old but she may learn…
A host of events took place in celebration of Shakespeare Week between 21-27 March 2022: a national annual event organised by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, with a particular focus on Primary-aged children. Many of the resources remain available and it's well worth a visit to the website at http://www.shakespeareweek.org.uk
Some have greatness thrust upon ’em…
The Royal Shakespeare Company have announced that 25 schools from their Associate Schools Programme are to receive a new RSC Artsmark Alliance Platinum Award in recognition of their outstanding commitment to Shakespeare and live theatre. The highest accolade possible (equivalent to Artsmark Platinum), the awards also acknowledge the role of the schools in providing arts and cultural learning opportunities to their own and other school communities in their area.
The Associate Schools’ Programme is the RSC's national schools’ partnership programme run in collaboration with twelve Regional Theatre Partners. It focusses on parts of the country where young people don't typically have access to the arts and to Shakespeare.
The programme aims to help level the playing field by broadening access to arts learning opportunities in schools. Lead Associate Schools recruit and work alongside a group of Associate Schools in their region. Being part of the RSC's Associate Schools Programme provides access to professional development opportunities for teachers to understand how to use the RSC's ‘rehearsal based techniques’ in their own classrooms; as well as learning, participation, performance, talent development and leadership opportunities for students.
Any maintained school in England can apply to join the Associate Schools programme. Schools join the programme for two years and have the opportunity to renew and extend their involvement at the end of this period. For more information, go to https://biturl.top/Vj2qAf
Meanwhile, the RSC has also partnered with social media platform TikTok to offer £10 tickets to students and young people. From June onwards, those aged 14 to 25 and full-time students will be able to access TikTok Tickets, and attend RSC shows in London or Stratford-Upon-Avon for £5 or £10, as well as reduced previews. This scheme will replace the RSC's £5 ticket offer for 16- to 25-year-olds. Each young person can purchase two TikTok Tickets per booking and can book the tickets as part of a mixed group with friends and family.
State schools will also be able to book £10 TikTok Tickets for group visits in Stratford-Upon-Avon, reducing the current RSC schools price by £2.50.
The RSC has also announced new plans for an online Shakespeare curriculum to be launched in 2023 that will offer resources for teachers and be available for all students. http://www.rsc.org.uk
Your face, my thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters…
With the Globe's Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank production of Macbeth now underway, a number of free resources have been made available on the production's website, as well as free CPD for teachers and workshops for students. On visiting the site you will also be able to download resources relating to past Playing Shakespeare productions. This means that comparisons can be drawn with the 2011 production of Macbeth, as well as Romeo and Juliets from 2013 and 2019, A Midsummer Night's Dream (2012 and 2021), and resources relating to Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, Othello and The Merchant of Venice.
Macbeth runs until 16 April. See the production's dedicated website at https://biturl.top/mYRrau
I'll be wise hereafter…
D&T recently reported that the BBC Shakespeare Archive had moved home, to be hosted on the website of ERA (the Educational Recording Agency). I reviewed the archive in the last issue and found in the process that there are an almost overwhelming number of TV and radio clips and full programmes available, so in collaboration with ERA, I have put together a playlist of curated clips, chosen for their potential usefulness in the teaching of Shakespeare texts as part of GCSE and A Level Drama. Schools can apply for an ERA license to access these materials, and you will find the playlist here: https://biturl.top/bAviau