Twelve fantastic Year 8 students took to the stage this week, performing their lively Theatre in Education piece, Shake It Up, Shakespeare! to four different primary schools. After weeks of devising and rehearsals, the group delivered a comic and thought-provoking performance imagining what might happen if the three witches from Macbeth decided to rewrite the play, making themselves the stars and casting Macbeth aside.
Their mischievous plan led to a spell that brought Shakespeare himself back from the dead, prompting a series of hilarious auditions from a range of his best-known characters. From Romeo and Juliet to Malvolio and Olivia, and even a rapping Hamlet, hopefuls vied for roles in the witches’ new production. In the end, only Ariel secured a part, a last-minute substitution from a teacher, after Prospero managed to scare the original actor away!
The performance concluded with Shakespeare firmly restoring order, reminding the witches that his plays are great just the way they are and perhaps encouraging them to create something entirely their own or asking the audience, our ‘playwrights of the future’ to help them. The students should be incredibly proud of their energy, creativity and professionalism throughout this engaging and entertaining project.
Drama at LEH
At LEH we’re serious about drama. Whether touring original productions to local primary schools, staging a West End musical with Hampton School, or running a show from behind the scenes, we offer every pupil the chance to perform, create and take part.
Recent productions have included an award-winning production of 42nd Street with Hampton School as part of our Hampton School Partnership, as well as original plays developed through our Write the Girl initiative.