‘Speak the speech, I pray you’

Today's youngsters cannot escape the Shakespearean text, with it featuring on all GCSE and A-Level English examination specifications. In preparing students for the Bard at Key Stage 4, a good school's English department will feature Shakespearean study within their Key Stage 3 curriculum map, much to the inevitable groans of a number of students.

As a secondary school Drama teacher, I was fortunate enough to work alongside an English department who welcomed forging cross-curricular links during Year 9's study of Macbeth. While our English colleagues handled the text's themes and language, my Drama team brought this language to life through staging the same key scenes studied in the English classroom. With a sound knowledge of the Elizabethan theatrical conditions, by which the students were fascinated, the learners' holistic understanding of the text was enhanced: they now understood the words Shakespeare had written through playing around with them.

Skills through Drama

In support of Drama teachers teaching Shakespeare, Linda Macrow, chief examiner for LAMDA examinations, freely admits: ‘At school, Shakespeare went straight over my head, and I originally failed my English Literature examination. When I re-studied the play with my Drama teacher, I came out with a B grade! This teacher helped bring the words to life.’

For over 130 years, LAMDA has secured an excellent reputation in communication, performance and musical theatre examinations, with their aim being to develop a love of literature, poetry and drama, consequently improving standards of communication via the spoken word.

In January 2018, LAMDA launched their Shakespeare examinations, giving young people the opportunity to develop an understanding and appreciation of characterisation and language through exploring Shakespeare's plays and sonnets. The syllabus fully supports both teacher and learner, developing the skills needed to communicate a Shakespearean text to an audience. In preparation, as well as securing knowledge of the performance process, learners develop the interpretative and technical skills needed to perform the text effectively.

Currently LAMDA offers three Shakespeare awards. The Level 1 Award requires the learner to perform one set Shakespearean speech from a list issued by LAMDA. The speeches are drawn from the four play categories – Comedy, Tragedy, Romance, and History. This provides an excellent introduction to the breadth of Shakespeare's work, offering a range of speeches to draw from. From the mystical Puck to the disappointed Boy from Henry V, a learner can play to their individual performance strengths in their selection. In their interpretation, the learner must demonstrate an understanding of and engagement with the material, requiring an in-depth exploration of the character and their words. Technique is seen in use of vocalisation and physical skills in response to the text. They must also understand the content and context of the speech.

The Level 2 Award can be taken as a solo examination, or in pairs, with learners performing two scenes. Solo learners perform two speeches of their own choice from a set list of plays, while pairs perform two self-chosen duologues from an issued list. The fact that the texts can be chosen by the learner and their teacher allows the right pieces to be selected, giving the learner the best possible chance to succeed. As in the previous examination, interpretation, technique and knowledge are also examined.

Level 3 awards a certificate in Shakespeare. This can also be taken as a solo examination or duologue, with two scenes and one sonnet being performed by candidates. Learners, again, need to demonstrate an understanding of the material, while adapting their performance skills to suit the text. They also need to display their knowledge and understanding of the content and context of the selected texts.

Inspiring a new generation

Since the examinations' launch, Faye Carmichael, qualifications officer for LAMDA examinations, reports that take-up of the Shakespeare examinations has been extremely positive, highlighting the wealth of interest out there for the study of Shakespeare.

LAMDA examinations develop a young person's ability to read fluently and with understanding. They expand their vocabulary to improve powers of self-expression, speaking and listening skills; and they improve their ability to memorise and recall information, engage in conversation, and work independently or as a member of a team.

Introducing young people to Shakespeare in its dramatic context can truly excite a learner. A door is unlocked onto a world that appeals to the imagination and sense of reason, allowing young people to make sense of today's complicated world through exploring an Elizabethan one.

To find out more about the LAMDA Shakespeare exams visit: www.lamda.ac.uk/our-exams/all-examinations/shakespeare-examinations