A school has teamed up with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Newcastle-under-Lyme’s New Vic to bring Shakespeare’s language to life as part of a national education programme.
Springhead Primary School in Talke Pits, Stoke will be working with the RSC and New Vic Education as the hub school in the RSC’s three-year learning and performance network (LPN).
Established in 2006, the LPN is the RSC's long-term partnership programme with schools, communities and theatres across England. It aims to transform children’s first experiences of Shakespeare and improve the teaching of Shakespeare in schools.
In north Staffordshire, the RSC will work with the New Vic’s education department to give Springhead Primary School and up to seven other schools the skills necessary to teach Shakespeare “in a more active way” using techniques similar to those used in RSC rehearsal rooms.
In the first year of the project the RSC will visit the Stoke area next spring with a Shakespeare production specifically created for younger audiences.
The schools will be given the chance to see the production and work with education staff and actors on gaining a deeper understanding of the play.
In 2016 all the schools together with artists from the RSC and New Vic Education will create a children’s Shakespeare performance festival at the New Vic.
Brian Anderson, head teacher at Springhead Primary School, said, “We have a long tradition at Springhead of using expert practitioners to enhance the learning experience for the children and we’re looking forward to continuing this while developing networks with local primary and secondary schools.
“The study of Shakespeare’s plays will promote the children’s love of stories and theatre, and their use of rich language.”
Jacqui O’Hanlon, RSC director of education, said, “We’re delighted to welcome Springhead Primary School into the LPN.
“We were impressed by the vision and commitment of both senior leadership and teachers in the school to ensure quality learning experiences for their pupils.
“We look forward to developing a long-term and meaningful partnership with the school and the New Vic Theatre to ensure that young people’s encounters with Shakespeare are exciting and relevant.”
Jill Rezzano, head of education at the New Vic, added, “We can’t wait to get started with the project and are looking forward to a brilliant three years working with the region’s schoolchildren to bring Shakespeare’s language to life."