Dulwich Shakespeare Festival: Channeling the Bard
This year we were again privileged to participate in the Dulwich Shakespeare Festival in collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company Learning. Due to current world circumstances, this year’s festival was largely online but we had an enthusiastic group of Junior and Senior School students who worked together to devise a performance based on Shakespeare’s iconic play Henry V.
The students attended a workshop with RSC Learning practitioner Chris White who joined them via video call from London. This was a fabulous experience where they took part in different exercises aiming to physically explore the language and bring to life this 400-year-old Shakespearean text. The students were also able to share their performance live with our school community in the Mei Lan Fang Theatre followed by a screening of the festival video received from the RSC Learning, and a celebration of the students’ work.
Dulwich Pudong students rose to the challenge; it just seemed to bring out the best in them!
Says Ms Helen Bamford, Teacher of Drama, "This is my third year of being involved with the Dulwich Shakespeare Festival. It is a real highlight of my school year to direct our own unique interpretation of a Shakespeare play, and every year the students amaze me with their energy and creativity working across year groups and across schools. This year in particular the adaptability of our students to work towards an online outcome was superb. As they rose to the challenge it just seemed to bring out the best in them!"
Working with the younger students was energetic! Everyone co-operated, which was great!
Says Year 9 student Charlotte W, "I enjoyed this experience, and it was amazing to see everyone collaborating and following the instructions of the Royal Shakespeare Company Learning practitioners. Working with the younger students was energetic! Everyone co-operated, which was great!"
The Shakespeare Festival allowed me to not only see a different side of theatre but also helped me to learn more about myself.
Says Year 9 student Nicha T, "I enjoyed the Shakespeare Festival because it allowed me to not only see a different side of theatre but also helped me to learn more about myself. Being involved with Junior School students taught me the importance of adaptability, patience, and being a good role model."
