Sixth Form English trips to develop students’ learning of Shakespeare

On Friday 7 October, English IB students enjoyed a trip to the Globe in London to see Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Jonathan Pryce was in the lead as Shylock, and his performance was highly accomplished, menacing and yet pitiful at the same time; an added twist was that Jessica, Shylock’s daughter, was played by Pryce’s actual daughter, Phoebe.

On 12-13 October, English A-Level students travelled to Stratford-Upon-Avon on a two-day residential trip to The Shakespeare Centre. By a piece of good luck, both drama texts on the A Level course were being performed by the RSC this year, one of them, Aphra Behn’s The Rover for the first time in thirty years! After seeing the play they went on to see Anthony Sher in the lead role of King Lear. On day two students met with Nia Gwynne, the actress who had played Goneril in King Lear the night before. Her comments on creating a Shakespearean character allowed students some very exciting insider perspectives into the workings of the RSC. After lunch, students were in the theatre again, this time to see Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, the play seemed very current, asking questions about national identity and Britain’s interrelationship with Europe. Links with post-Brexit Britain were clearly important for Melly Still, the Director. Two days full of Shakespeare! But then they say, you can never overdose on the Bard…