KEY STAGES 1 & 2 - Guildford Shakespeare Company

Shakespeare can feel like a big leap for young learners which is why that very first encounter matters so much.

Our lively, practical workshops turn Shakespeare’s plays into something pupils can see, hear, feel and explore for themselves. The reason Shakespeare’s play continue to be so popular today is because at their heart, there’s a brilliant story. Whether it’s by taking your students into a magical forest inhabited by the fairy king and queen, leading them to a blasted heath where witches cast spells and kingdoms rise and fall or shipwrecking them on a distant island, we’ll help them bring the story to life in the safety of their classroom.

"The children were absolutely buzzing" Manorfield School

By unlocking the story, introducing the characters in accessible ways and getting students up on their feet, we help Shakespeare’s worlds become immediate, exciting and full of possibility.

“Eli, Helen, Gavin and James were all so passionate, engaging, and enthusiastic about their craft- this really rubbed off on our pupils and encouraged them to engage fully with, and enjoy, the workshop.” Duke of Kent School

We understand that not every school's timetable, students and needs are the same, so we can modify our workshops to suit your needs.

Ideal for: Introducing Shakespeare’s stories to KS1 and KS2.

Details: 2 hour workshop £350 (1 hour workshop, £200); up to 30 students (£6.50 per pupil thereafter); one facilitator.

How it works: Our experienced facilitator will take your students through the key scenes of the story and involve students in acting out those scenes in their own words with a sprinkling of Shakespearean quotes thrown in to elevate the drama!

Through an energetic and interactive session, pupils build confidence with language, deepen their understanding of the play and discover that Shakespeare is not something to be feared, but something to be enjoyed. They finish the workshop with a sense of ownership, understanding and achievement.

“It was amazing to see what they and the young people could produce”
Escalate Arts

Ideal for: Introducing Shakespeare’s plays to years 5 & 6 in an interactive, high energy session.

Details: 2 hour workshop £350 (1 hour workshop, £200); up to 30 students (£6.50 per pupil after); one facilitator.

How it works: Our experienced actor/facilitators will lead your students through a series of practical exercises, involving drama games, scene work and performance techniques to unlock the story, themes and characters in a play. These workshops can be tailored to your requirements and are available for all Shakespeare plays as well as including some non Shakespeare options such as Public and Persuasive speaking, Gothic Writing and an Introduction to Shakespeare.

These workshops can be used to follow on from a Performance Workshop or as a standalone enhancement to your English or Drama class. They can also be combined into a package deal to create a drama based enrichment day.

“The morning's workshop were fantastic and perfectly tailored and pitched to our pupils and their learning.” Duke of Kent School

Ideal for: Enrichment days.

Details: A full school day from £900; for up to 30 students (£6.50 per pupil after); one facilitator

How it works: Drama games, improvisation, line-learning, story-telling, rehearsals, movement, possibly even some stage fighting. We bring the fun to you. We have play in a day versions of plays from A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Alice in Wonderland. Our experienced facilitators will elevate your enrichment days and get drama mad students up on their feet performing a play after just one day of rehearsal.

"An absolutely fantastic day for all!" Loseley Fields

Ideal for: Year 5 and 6 whole groups – introducing a play.

Details: 80 minute workshop, £800; for a whole year group (up to 120 students. £6.50 per pupil after); 4 actor/facilitators

How it works: Using the original text, our actors deliver an abridged version of your chosen play, especially cut and designed to transport students into the whole of the story without leaving their school. Depending on the play, students take small roles within the performance, acting alongside our actors. The performance is staged script in hand with highly skilled, professional GSC actor facilitators with some props and costumes to help bring the story to life. The session concludes with a Q&A session with the cast.

“Having worked with other companies in the past my colleagues and I were so impressed by the actors. We would definitely love to have you back next year!” Calthorpe Park School

KEY STAGES 1 & 2 WORKSHOPS

STORY WORKSHOPS

DISCOVERY WORKSHOPS

PLAY IN A DAY

PERFORMANCE WORKSHOPS

SOME OF OUR RECENT WORKSHOPS...

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