What will the RSC be doing to support the manifesto's recommendations?
We pledge that as a commitment to our Stand up for Shakespeare manifesto we will take the following action:
Do it on your feet
We will continue enhancing our existing programme of education work for school groups and students, encouraging young people to participate actively in our work through onstage events, practical workshops and performance projects. These include:
Midweek workshops
These practical workshops for school children on a range of Shakespeare plays are available at our bases in Stratford, London and Newcastle.
Teachers Courses for Primary and Secondary teachers
These courses use active theatre-based methods to explore Shakespeare within the classroom and are available nationally. We can also tailor courses to meet your specific requirements.
Training for Initial Teacher Educators (ITE)
In 2007 we began a pilot initiative with a group of 90 ITE students from a range of Universities. We are supporting these students in developing their teaching of Shakespeare through a two year programme of work with us, from their initial training year, through their year as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) and into their second year of teaching. Through this pilot we aim to improve teacher confidence levels for working practically with Shakespeare in the classroom.
Post Graduate Awards for Actors
We aim to ensure best practice in the leading of all practical Shakespeare workshops in schools. Our Post Graduate training programmes enable RSC actors to develop their education skills alongside their experience in the rehearsal rooms to become Shakespeare practitioners in the classroom. We are extending this project and wish to develop further opportunities for actors to work within schools to support the teaching of Shakespeare.
See it live
The RSC will work towards providing more opportunities for young people to attend performances of our work:
Romeo and Juliet
In autumn 2008, a new production of Romeo and Juliet directed by Neil Bartlett will tour nationally supported by a full programme of education work. We hope that this boldly theatrical new staging of Shakespeare's story of two teenagers torn apart by their families' vendetta will attract more young audiences to Shakespeare.
Twelfth Night
Also in autumn 2008, Filter Theatre in association with the RSC will tour schools in Birmingham, Warwickshire and London with their experimental version of Twelfth Night, directed by Sean Holmes. The production aims to provide an exciting first introduction to Shakespeare for 11-13 year olds and will be accompanied by a programme of education workshops and teacher INSET.
Exploring Shakespeare
As a way of ensuring that more young people have access to opportunities to see Shakespeare's plays in performance, our website Exploring Shakespeare uses video extracts to examine the interpretative choices made during the rehearsal process, exploring the journey made by actors and directors in the staging of a Shakespeare play.
Start it earlier
We will develop our programme of Teachers' Courses to support the Primary curriculum; helping teachers to develop the active theatre based skills that can encourage children to learn through the stories, characters and language of Shakespeare's plays, whilst experiencing an exciting introduction to his work.
The RSC is also committed to supporting the three key manifesto recommendations through a programme of sustained partnerships with schools around the country:
The Learning and Performance Network
Established in 2006, any state state school in the UK can apply to enter into a three-year partnership with us. The opportunities available through our Learning and Performance Network include accredited courses for teachers, offered in conjunction with the University of Warwick, as well as performance projects and festivals for students. Through involvement in the network, teachers and young people explore Shakespeare practically in their classrooms, see Shakespeare's plays performed live by their peers as well as by professional theatre companies and start to experience Shakespeare's work earlier. The youngest of our network students are 8 years old.
We are currently working with:
• 153 primary schools
• 87 secondary schools
• 6 special schools
• 1 pupil reintegration unit
These school are spread across 17 different regions of the country.
