Gala event celebrates Shakespeare reimagined by young people

Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation (CSSF) is showcasing young people and their reimaginings of Shakespeare in an upcoming gala event. 

Featuring performances from the finalists of its national creative competition, What You Will, the event will be held at London’s Criterion Theatre on 27 November. 

Readings of original speeches written by young people from the perspective of one of Shakespeare’s characters will be followed by music, dance and readings from special guests, and a comedy narrator representing Shakespeare himself. 

Alfred Enoch, Ben Willbond, John Heffernan and Eliza Butterworth are among the celebrities taking part in the event.

The What You Will competition coincides with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio – the first collected edition of the bard’s works which would otherwise have been lost. 

Mike Tucker, head of CSSF, said: ‘We believe that Shakespeare is for everyone, and we’ve had entries to the What You Will competition from all types of schools from all over the UK and beyond. We’ve been overwhelmed by the quality and the playfulness of the entries, some of which have been submitted in written form, in videos incorporating music, dance, British Sign Language and even pieces of art.’

‘When children and young people get to bring their own voice to Shakespeare, something truly special happens. We’ve selected 12 finalists, and we can’t wait to see those young people take to the stage at the Criterion Theatre in London’s West End.’

Actor Alfred Enoch, who took part in the judging, said: ‘Most children encounter Shakespeare in an academic context as something they have to study to pass an exam, not something they get to play with or approach in a way that’s fun.’

‘One of the most beautiful things about this competition has been to see the freedom with which young people have engaged with Shakespeare and how they’ve used his work to make something new, something of their own. I was in awe of some of the entries, they were fantastic. CSSF is a charity I’m very proud to support and I can’t wait to see the finalists on the night.’