If all the world is a stage, it’s never too soon to start learning your lines. Jane McGowan spotlights two Surrey initiatives for bringing the Bard to the bairns...
If knowledge is “the wing wherewith we fly to heaven” – as Shakespeare has the nobleman Lord Say declare in Henry VI Part II – it makes sense to create an entrance for the playwright himself into the minds of the very young.
And here in Surrey, north and south, devotees are doing precisely that: faithfully teaching children that the play is indeed the thing. The award-winning Guildford Shakespeare Company (GSC) is renowned for staging exceptional theatre in extraordinary places.
As part of that remit, it has created some 23,800 engagement opportunities through workshops, drama clubs, school tours and specialist programmes for children and teenagers.
“Shakespeare was written to be performed, not read,” insists Kerrie Driscoll, GSC’s creative learning producer. “So it’s imperative that young people’s first encounter with these plays is positive and practical.
“Getting up on your feet, hearing your voice – and that of others – speak these words aloud, energises the plays, the characters and their situations. In the process, not only do the plays become ‘real’, but the participants can take ownership of them.
“Performing was a cornerstone of Shakespeare’s own education, 450 years ago. It taught young people the importance of empathy, compassion and reasoning, and the same is still true today.”
Up in Richmond, Orange Tree Theatre has connected young people to The Bard through its Primary Shakespeare and Shakespeare Up Close programmes for over 40 years. This year’s Primary Shakespeare offering is Julius Caesar, designed for Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6).
The children will encounter the classic tale of ambition, loyalty and betrayal in ancient Rome via a lively, interactive retelling.
“It is the greatest privilege of my job to create work that brings children and young people into a theatre – not just the Orange Tree, any theatre – for the first time,” says Francesca Ellis, community director at the Clarence Street venue.
“Bringing those epic stories to life – for an audience who have no idea what’s going to happen and are totally invested in events onstage – is truly special.”
A mix of workshops and enactment, the sessions introduce the pupils to the characters, explore the story with its key themes and enable the children to get to know the actors. This initial teaching is followed by a full performance which involves the entire audience.
The event takes place in the Orange Tree auditorium, which has played host to such household names as Brian Cox, Richard E Grant and Lily James. As Francesca says, it makes for a memorable first theatre trip.
“One child who came to see Hamlet last year — a boy who finds school challenging and often excludes himself from activities – was so moved by ‘To be or not to be’ that he called out: ‘Don’t give up on yourself!’ Hamlet gave him a high five, and the boy was still talking about it a week later.”
Meanwhile, GSC has been working since 2016 with arts-based learning charity Delight, which runs a specially created programme of performances and workshops that carry an Artsmark accreditation. This year kicks off with a brand new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, staged by professional actors, to be shown to primary school pupils in Guildford, Woking, Sunbury, Chertsey, Horley, Camberley and Ashford. This will be followed by workshops, with subsequent follow-up events led by the actors.
Finally, the children enact the play in front of their families. “Drama in schools plays a crucial role in promoting lifelong learning, supporting growth in the arts and sustaining vibrant, healthy communities,” says Kerrie Driscoll.
“Engagement with the arts cultivates a richer, more dynamic cultural landscape that benefits everyone involved.”And with the emphasis on fun, adds Francesca Ellis, the benefits of such programmes cannot be overstated.“These early encounters with Shakespeare make a real difference,” she says. “They spark imagination, build empathy and ignite a lifetime love of theatre.”
For more about Guildford Shakespeare Company’s offer for young people, visit: guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk. For schools and other community outreach programmes at the Orange Tree visit: orangetreetheatre.co.uk.
