Page 24
Cultural Olympiad
Where there’s a Will there’s a play
As part of the Cultural Olympiad, showcasing UK art when London hosts the Olympics in 2012, the NUT is working with members of actors’ union Equity on a project celebrating the work of William Shakespeare. Ian Flintoff invites NUT members to get involved.
“Teachers, schools and children were always essential to the project, right from the start. It could never work properly without them.” These words are from members of performers’ union Equity, who are setting up a UK-wide celebration of the fun, entertainment and power of the works of William Shakespeare. They’re calling it Shakespeare United for 2012 – and they want NUT members to join them.
The project kicked off in 2004 when the Equity branch in west and south west London endorsed the Great British Shakespeare Event. They were well aware that to be a success it needed to draw on the strong tradition of theatre in education (TIE) and involve teachers and young people.
Since then a team has been spreading the word – and ensuring that teachers and young people have the pleasure and rewards of joining in. They have found an enormous groundswell of support in all parts of Britain, from all cultures, ages, and social situations.
• Shakespeare United has seen seven-year-old primary school children perform their own version of The Tempest – then taken 42 of them, plus three teachers, to see the birthplace of Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon.
• Welsh schoolchildren performed Shakespeare’s sonnets, in Welsh, at the Living Willow Theatre in mid-Wales, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of their composition.
• Shakespeare champion Chris Tranchell has been fixing up ‘Shakespeare Shuffles’ – fun performances for young people – in and around West London for the past 18 months.
• Young people from all ethnic backgrounds have enjoyed workshopping passages from Hamlet, The Winter’s Tale and Twelfth Night. Shy at first, young women and girls who had never encountered Shakespeare before have got up on stage and delivered confident speeches from Ophelia or the magic ending of The Winter’s Tale.
• A trek is planned for 2012, starting simultaneously in John O’Groats and Land’s End and working its way through village halls, community centres, deprived estates and major theatres, playing Shakespeare all the way and eventually meeting up. Teachers and children will be welcomed on the way.
• Others are planning pub quizzes (at the Shakespeare’s Head – where else? – in Brighton), a costumed musical birthday tribute in Covent Garden, and even a Shakespeare’s Got Talent competition.
One of the hoped-for results is to stimulate creative and contracted work for performers, paid at the proper rate and initiating a wider public into the pleasure of live drama. Professional theatres around the UK have written in with their support. Most have undertaken to perform at least some Shakespeare during 2012, enabling children to see plays they may otherwise never know.
Head teachers, drama teachers and all those involved with performance in education are needed to make Shakespeare United a success. The organisers would like every education establishment in Britain to think of doing something to bring this imaginative concept to fruition. Professional supporters are keen to provide help where they are wanted.
Anne Mallach, NUT London regional officer, is helping Equity get teachers and children involved. “We’re delighted to be working with Equity members on this exciting project, and want to involve NUT members across the country. Do send us your ideas to bring the performance of Shakespeare into as many schools as possible.”
Together we can teach people around Britain about the best entertainer of all time – and give his work the status it deserves.
Play your part
Ian Flintoff is an actor and director and leads the steering group for Shakespeare United for 2012. They would love to hear from schools or individuals who want to get involved. Just email Shakespeare United at
shakespeare2012@aol.com, call 01865 715870 or 07710 296280, or email Anne Mallach at
a.mallach@
nut.org.uk.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52