Over 4,600 young people from 232 schools across England have performed Shakespeare in their schools, local theatres or community venues this year, as part of our annual Playmaking Festivals.
And this week the festival comes to Stratford-upon-Avon with 90 young people from schools in Blackpool, Cornwall, Cumbria, Nottingham and Peterborough performing a ‘spy thriller’ version of King Lear at The Other Place.
One of 26 Playmaking Festivals taking place up and down the country, the specially edited version of King Lear is creatively directed by Roberta Zuric and will be performed across multiple rooms in The Other Place on Friday 27 June. Shifting the action into a world of secrets and spies, where the King Lear Agency (KLA) is crumbling; Goneril and Regan are ruthless, power-hungry agents; and Cordelia is a resistance whistleblower.
Each year, Playmaking Festivals give young people and schools a chance to work with other schools in their area and celebrate the work they do as part of the RSC’s Associate Schools Programme with a collaborative performance for friends and family.
Each area takes a unique approach to its Playmaking Festival with examples including:
- In North Staffordshire, a performance of The Tempest at the New Vic Theatre was accompanied by an exhibition of young people’s creative writing inspired by the play.
- In Northamptonshire, over 400 young people performed Henry V, including storytelling through dance and songs inspired by the play and composed by the young participants.
- In York, over 150 young people performed a magical version of The Tempest featuring multiple children in character as Ariel and Caliban at York Theatre Royal.
- And in Kent, 22 schools performed against the iconic backdrop of Shakespeare’s Cliff, a section of the White Cliffs of Dover referenced in King Lear.
Paul Ainsworth, RSC Young Theatre Makers Developer said: “From Cornwall to Cumbria, the Playmaking Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon is a really important moment to take stock, celebrate and showcase the inspirational work that teachers, young people and our theatre and community partners do all over the country as part of the Associate Schools Programme."
"Playmaking Festivals are a culmination of exceptional work in the classroom, with teachers and young people exploring Shakespeare’s plays as we would in a rehearsal room, supported by RSC artists. This year, we’re excited to be creating a very different Playmaking Festival, welcoming young people to take ownership of one of the RSC’s iconic spaces - The Other Place.”
To find out more about the Playmaking Festival here.
