EDUCATION
Performing Shakespeare
dialogue CATCHES UP WITH THE TEACHERS AFTER THE ESU ’ S ANNUAL DAY OF WORKSHOPS AND PERFORMANCE AT DARTMOUTH HOUSE .
WORDS MARY GREER PICTURES GIGI GIANELLA
In May , the ESU welcomed fifty pupils from six London secondary schools to Dartmouth House for the second year of the Performing Shakespeare Competition . The day , which is supported by ESU London Region , comprised a series of workshops led by Education Practitioners from Shakespeare ’ s Globe .
This year , as part of the ESU ’ s ongoing commitment to Continuing Professional Development for teaching professionals , there was also a special workshop organised for accompanying teachers . dialogue caught up with two of the teachers – Moira Fitzgerald from Prendergast Hilly Fields College and Edward Rice from Dunraven School – to talk to them about the competition .
What do you think the students can learn from the ESU ’ s Performing Shakespeare Competition ?
MF : Many things . The challenge of public performance . The demands of
Shakespearean speaking . The delights of moving into an altogether different relationship with the text when it has been memorised in rehearsal .
ER : I agree – taking part in this year ’ s Performing Shakespeare Competition has really helped our students to access Shakespeare ’ s language in ways they may not have done before .
Why do you think it is important for teachers to get training as well as pupils ?
MF : We should never ask pupils to do anything we wouldn ’ t do ourselves . Experiential learning is key . In addition , I always enjoy new ways of approaching Shakespeare texts .
ER : The training we received from the Globe Education Practitioners was fantastic . The fact that we , as well as the students , were put through our paces meant that we all came away with fresh ideas about how to approach Shakespeare which we could put into practice in the classroom .