Sunday, May 19, 2013
Resources School Workshops

Shakespeare Workshops for Schools

The Tempest

A day of interactive drama and writing activities for Key Stage 2 based on Shakespeare's The Tempest. Devised by drama consultant David Farmer and RSC actor Tom Harper, these workshops bring the stories, characters and language of The Tempest to life. Suitable for children aged 7-11 years, the workshops are currently available in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and London.

The day gives pupils the opportunity to investigate Shakespeare's world through a mixture of interactive drama and performance, helping them to make connections between Shakespeare's themes and our own time. We will explore the personalities and words of characters including Prospero, Ariel, Caliban, Miranda and Ferdinand.

Workshop Activities

The sessions will be tailored to suit each age-group, to fit your timetable and will include several of the activities below.

Bardon Me? An introduction to the life, times and language of the iconic playwright.

Words, Words, Words Find out how the young William Shakespeare loved to play with words, and play some games to find out how many words you know, how many words Shakespeare knew - and have fun inventing your own words and meanings.

Acting Games Learn how actors warm up by playing some games and experience how breathing exercises can help you be more creative.

Whoosh! Act out the whole story of The Tempest - everybody gets to play a part!

Story Jigsaw Unscramble the plot of The Tempest and perform the play through freeze-frames.

Learn A Line How many different ways can you act out a line from Shakespeare?

The workshops are currently available to primary schools within 100 miles of Norwich, Norfolk.

Whole day: £375 - £450 (We will send one or two practitioners dependent on number of classes/sessions)

Call David Farmer on 01603 465973 or 0797 321 7876 to find out more or email David through the Contact Page

Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometimes voices
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me; that, when I waked,
I cried to dream again.

tempest

 

'Tom and David were fantastic and dynamic... they had the children up and active through the sessions and held their interest in Shakespeare.'
- Year 5 students, Monkfield Park Primary School, Cambridgeshire

'The students really responded well to the ‘humanisation’ of Shakespeare.'
-Year 5 teacher, Monkfield Park Primary School, Cambridgeshire

What they said about our Olympic Drama workshops (2012):
'We found the workshops to be extremely well planned and executed and as a result were amazed at how much the children managed to enthusiastically learn and produce within a relatively small time frame. The workshops also provided a considerable opportunity for follow up work in class, inspiring children and teachers alike!'
- Paul Seeman, Headteacher, Banham County Primary School (Norfolk).

'As a school we thought the workshops were targeted at the exact right level and all the children were enthralled throughout. From the teachers' point of view, there were a lot of techniques and strategies that they could adapt and use in different topics. Overall a very successful couple of days.'
- Amanda Whiting, Teacher, Gladstone Primary School, (Peterborough).