Education resources

We offer resources for teachers on our productions and also information about Shakespeare's life and work:

Resource bank
List of teachers' packs
Social and historical context
Shakespeare's language

More teaching activities to support your active approaches to Shakespeare can be found in our book, RSC Shakespeare Toolkit for Teachers, which is available to buy at the RSC Shop.
We also run a range of courses - to find out more, choose from:
Courses for teachers »
Courses for students »

Teachers' packs

These resource packs (listed below) have been written using the rehearsal room techniques for the particular production. They can also be used to explore the plays more generally. Click on the production to download the PDF.

The packs are often supported by information and video clips from our past productions in our Explore section.
Use our Resource bank as an easy way to navigate this material.
You will find image galleries from many past productions which can be a rich classroom and research resource - download our guide:
How to use image galleries with your students (PDF 37KB) 

We've listed plays by Shakespeare first, alphabetically, then by year and director.
After that, we've listed plays by other writers:

 

Plays by Shakespeare

Antony and Cleopatra
2010-2011, directed by Michael Boyd
2006 (Gregory Doran) for KS3 and above)

The Comedy of Errors
2012 (Amir Nizar Zuabi) for KS3 and above
(This pack covers the 2012 RSC productions of The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night and The Tempest.)
2009 Young People's Shakespeare (Paul Hunter) for KS2 and above

Hamlet
2010, Young People's Shakespeare (Tarell Alvin McCraney) for KS2 and above
2008, stage production and film (Gregory Doran) for KS3 and above

Julius Caesar
2012 (Gregory Doran) - Background pack, for KS2 and above
2012 (Gregory Doran) - Activities pack, for KS2 and above
2012 (Gregory Doran) - Discussion pack, for KS3 and above
2009-11 (Lucy Bailey) for KS3 and above
2006 (Sean Holmes) for KS3 and above

King Lear

2012 (Tim Crouch - YPS production) for KS2 and above
2010-11 (David Farr) for KS5 and above
2007 (Trevor Nunn) for KS4 and above

Macbeth
2011 (Michael Boyd) for KS3 and above

Measure for Measure
2011 (Roxana Silbert) - Activity pack for KS5
2011 (Roxana Silbert) - Research pack for KS5
2011 (Roxana Silbert) - Interview pack for KS5

The Merchant of Venice
2011 (Rupert Goold) for KS3 and above

The Merry Wives of Windsor
 2012 (Phillip Breen) - Background, interviews and activities for KS3 and above

A Midsummer Night's Dream        
2011 (Nancy Meckler) for KS3 and above

Much Ado About Nothing
2012 (Iqbal Khan) - Activity pack for KS2 and 3 and above
2012 (Iqbal Khan) - Interview pack for KS3 and above
2006 (Marianne Elliott) for KS3 and above

Richard III
2012 (Roxana Silbert) for KS3 and above
2007 (Michael Boyd) for KS3 and above

Romeo and Juliet
2010-11 (Rupert Gould) for KS3 and above
2008 (Neil Bartlett) - The balcony scene (for KS3 and above)
2008 (Neil Bartlett) - Language (for KS3 and above)

The Taming of the Shrew
2012 (Lucy Bailey) for KS3 and above
2011 Young People's Shakespeare (Tim Crouch) for KS2 and above

The Tempest
2012 (David Farr) for KS3 and above
(This pack covers the 2012 RSC productions of The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night and The Tempest.)
2011 (Peter Glanville) for KS2 and above
This production in collaboration with Little Angel Theatre combined puppetry, songs, live music and storytelling.

Twelfth Night
2012 (David Farr) for KS3 and above
(This pack covers the 2012 RSC productions of The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night and The Tempest.)
2009 (Gregory Doran) for KS4 and above

What country, friends, is this?
2012 for KS3 and above
This pack covers the 2012 RSC productions of The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night and The Tempest.

The Winter's Tale
2009-11 (David Farr) for KS3 and above
2006 (Dominic Cooke)

 

 

Plays by other writers

Arabian Nights
2009 (Dominic Cooke) for KS2 and above

I, Cinna (The Poet)
2012 (Tim Crouch) - Background pack, for KS2 and above
2012 (Tim Crouch) - Activities pack, for KS2 and above
2012 (Tim Crouch) - Discussion pack, for KS3 and above

Matilda, A Musical
2010 (Matthew Warchus) for KS2 and above

The Mouse and his Child
2012 (Paul Hunter) - Activities pack, for KS2 and above 
2012 (Paul Hunter) - Interviews pack

 

Find more Secondary drama resources on TES »
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