It’s the largest youth drama festival in the world – involving over 350 schools this year – and Shakespeare Schools Festival is returning to Greenwich Theatre, with the pupils performing on alternate nights between October 31 and November 3.
Run by Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation, a cultural education charity, the festival is open to all pupils aged 8 – 18, from primary, secondary and special educational needs schools.
Schools across south-east London are coming to Greenwich Theatre to perform abbreviated versions of some of the Bard’s best-known plays, which they’ve been rehearsing in the classroom. This year, for the first time, they’re also being joined by some special visitors.
“There will be 14 schools this year. As well as 12 schools from London and the south east, we have one extra curricular group coming from Dublin and one school from Norway,” reveals James Haddrell, artistic director of Greenwich Theatre.
Shakespeare Schools Festival (SSF) began in the year 2000 in a small town theatre in Wales, with just 240 pupils from eight different schools taking part. Since then, the festival has become the world’s largest youth drama project, with up to 30,000 primary, secondary and special educational needs pupils taking part.
Greenwich Theatre has been a part of SSF since its second year, and James, who joined the theatre in 2001 as press officer, has always been integral to its running.
For James, who ordinarily works with adult, professional performers and theatremakers, there’s something particularly inspiring about seeing the primary schools take on a Shakespeare play. “It really does reinforce how timeless the stories are, and how accessible the language can be if it’s taught well,” he says.
As well as inspiring confidence on stage, taking part might prove the gateway to a life-long interest in the 400-year-old plays for some young participants.
“You know, when you see children that young tackling the story, that those children are going to have a positive relationship with Shakespeare as they progress through their school careers, that they won’t be intimidated when they come across his plays in future years,” says James.
Traditionally, staging Shakespeare in schools was praised for its ability to improve literacy and academic attainment. But SSF has found many more benefits besides.
Research into the festival conducted by Arts Council England in 2017 found 93% of students said that they found it easier to work in a team, while 90% of teachers said their students were more enthusiastic about learning as a result of taking part in the festival; 86% reported higher academic attainment; and 99% agreed that their students’ confidence had increased.
“This year the festival also feels particularly timely and relevant, as it coincides with the launch of the new ‘Theatre For Every Child’ campaign led by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre,” says James.
“The campaign calls upon the Department for Education and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to set aside up to £34 million per year to send 800,000 children on a theatre trip annually, with the hope that voluntary contributions from those parents who can afford it, and other funding sources or sponsorship, will allow that figure to be halved.”
Watching a live show is a well-known tonic for the increasing amount of time many of us are spending on our screens. Culturally enriching, it also provides a shared experience for viewers, which can improve mental wellbeing.
However, according to James, there’s a less documented benefit too, which the scheme will address. “The (SOLT) proposal suggests that the trips will also increase awareness about backstage jobs in theatre, supporting the need to fill a skills gap that has only got worse post-COVID.
“That potential for theatre to have a transformative effect is one of the reasons that we are so delighted to welcome the Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival back each year,” he says.
“I’m sure we will see many of the children who participate in the festival returning to the theatre far into the future – whether in the audience, on stage or in one of the countless backstage and support roles that exist.”
Shakespeare Schools Festival is running at Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ES.
October 31 – November 3, 7pm.
Admission: £9.95/£8.50 concessions.
www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/shakespeare-schools-festival-nov-23/
