Word play with Shakespeare

Summary

This case study looks at the partnership between the English department at an inner-city girls' comprehensive school and the education team at Shakespeare's Globe.

The school took part in Globe Education's ‘Word Play' project, which encourages pupils to craft, control and conjure with words through exploring Shakespeare's language. Globe Education designed and delivered a series of in-school workshops to meet the specific nees of a year 8 class and a year 10 tutor group. The project culminated in a visit to the Globe, when each group of pupils had the opportunity to work in a theatre rehearsal room and to perform their own scripts on the stage.

As a result of taking part in this project, pupils gained self-esteem and grew more confident in their use of language. Teachers also noticed an improvement in their behaviour and cooperation. Having started the project with a strong resistance to Shakespeare, they began to approach his language with confidence and are more enthusiastic about studying his plays in the future.

The success of this project reflects the outstanding relationship between Globe Education and the school, highlighting what can be achieved through close collaboration and good communication. Long-term funding from Deutsche Bank has enabled Globe Education to spend time fostering this type of relationship and exploring exciting, creative approaches that will shape its future work.