Day 1
A playful, insightful exploration of The Tempest. We were up on our feet in seconds, and it pretty much stayed that way unless we needed to sit and talk and write our reflections of which I gained insight and saw how well it would work in schools. I was struck by how easy it is to use with disengaged learners, only using small chunks of text in a fun way, not getting bogged down with meaning. It is a refreshing and playful way to analyse Shakespeare and higher end learners would be equally challenged too.
A particular highlight for me was having supper together at the infamous Dirty Duck before watching The Tempest, starring Alex Kingston as Prospero. It was a stunning production and the washed-up debris on the shore a constant reminder of the sorry state of our planet.
Day 2
We chatted about the show and responded physically to the characters' mannerisms and movement we saw on the stage the previous evening and then delved into Macbeth.
Day 3
We will reconvene in June to share our practice in schools in terms of how the students will have responded to and understood the text using the RSC rehearsal techniques, we will continue to explore further and deeper with Romeo and Juliet.
Next
When I have completed the Foundation Course I am looking forward to progressing my training with both Intermediate and Advanced levels of the Certificate in Teaching Shakespeare. I will use my experiences from the RSC and my teaching career to offer workshops to support KS3 and KS4 English classes using techniques and approaches I have learnt from my years of experience and recent training to engage students with Shakespeare's plays.
I will encourage them to explore the characters, language, and themes using the exercises. My aim is to create a supportive and playful environment that allows students to experiment and discover their own interpretations of the text and help develop their confidence and analytical skills.
I am really looking forward to bringing the playfulness we encountered to young people over the next few months and have enjoyed learning new ways of working with Shakespeare.