How To Make School Memories of Shakespeare Happy Ones

Published on: 19 Sep, 2017
Updated on: 20 Sep, 2017

GSC Romeo and Juliet Delight Tour – Photo Mark Dean

By Alice Fowler

We all have memories of Shakespeare, mostly honed at school – but how to make them happy ones? That is the challenge faced by the Guildford Shakespeare Company as it strives to capture not just the imaginations of theatre-going adults, but the hearts and minds of children, in Guildford and beyond.

“Okay Romeo, I’ll think about it!” – Hawley Place School, Camberley

Last year, the GSC’s Education Department ran workshops at some ten schools in the borough, as well as after school clubs for those keen to expand their knowledge. “There’s a real advantage if we can catch children young, before their opinions have been formed by outside influences,” says Ant Stones, the GSC’s Head of Education.

“A kid might say, ‘Shakespeare’s boring, I’ll never understand it.’ But no one at our classes comes away thinking Shakespeare is inaccessible. If we’ve got to them at primary school, they can say, ‘No, I really like it’.”

With demand growing – typically the GSC visits one school every three days – it has employed a full-time education officer, Francesca McInally, to expand its provision.

“We already work with primary schools in more deprived areas, like Guildford Grove and Weyfield,” says Stones.

“We’d really like to be in every single school in the town. It’s so easy for us to form relationships with them: we have the capacity to pop over, maybe do an assembly, make sure we are really targeting what the teachers want to get across.’”

The company can even bring its own touring productions to local schools; last year Romeo and Juliet, this year Macbeth.

Shakespeare can be fun! – Photo Alex Brenner

“We’d like to increase our partnerships with secondary schools, especially as children head towards GCSE,” says Stones. “This is the first time we’ve had two full time members of education staff. That means not only can we extend our classes and clubs, we’ve also got more time for bigger projects.

“GSCE students need to see a Shakespeare play on stage. Our message is you don’t need to go to London: we can bring that play to you.”

With vibrant workshops, classes and productions all available, children can discover for themselves the stories, characters and humour inherent in Shakespeare’s plays.

“As they get older, they realise the language is beautiful underneath,” Stones concludes. “We can help them do that.”

*To learn more about the GSC’s work with schools, visit www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk or contact education@guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk