Shakespeare Schools Foundation

Last updated

Shakespeare Schools Foundation (SSF) is a cultural education charity in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Every year, up to 30,000 young people from across the UK representing all communities and backgrounds take part in the world's largest youth drama festival, the Shakespeare Schools Festival. Since 2000, SSF has worked with over 250,000 young people and their teachers. [1]

Contents

Mission

SSF is a cultural education charity. [2] Its mission is to give young people skills that help them succeed in life.

Through tailored programmes, curriculum resources and standalone workshops, the charity works to improve teamwork and educational attainment. SSF works with every type of school in the UK. They engage diverse groups, including those attending special schools and from minority ethnic backgrounds, and are working to reach those living in areas of deprivation.

Values [3]

Activities

The Shakespeare Schools Festival

SSF's flagship project is the world's largest youth drama festival. The charity trains teachers and young people in an active and ambitious way of working with Shakespeare. Every autumn, months of preparation culminate in over 1,000 performances from primary, secondary and special schools in over 130 theatres nationwide. SSF trains, supports, encourages and produces - making the creative, technical and artistic work of the schools possible.

Workshops and Curriculum Resources

SSF creates curriculum resources [4] and runs standalone workshops for students, teachers, and businesses. [5] For over 15 years, SSF has given participants tools applicable in classrooms and staff rooms, offices and boardrooms.

History

In 2016, Shakespeare Schools Festival became Shakespeare Schools Foundation. See Shakespeare Schools Festival for the previous history.

2016

27,550 young people from 1,093 schools performed abridged versions of Shakespeare plays in 131 theatres across the UK as part of the 16th Shakespeare Schools Festival.

To celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, SSF staged performances at 10 Downing Street, [6] Westminster Abbey, a West End Gala, and at the Queen's 90th birthday. SSF also hosted the Trial of Hamlet fundraiser. [7] Tried by QCs in front of Lady Justice Hallett, evidence from Gertrude, played by Meera Syal, Claudius, played by Tom Conti, and Player King, played by Lee Mack, was insufficient to find Hamlet, played by John Heffernan, guilty for the murder of Polonius. [8] SSF's young performers shared the stage with the cast.

2018

In 2018, the Foundation was awarded the Praemium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists, [9] having been selected for the award by Chancellor of the University of Oxford and former Chairman of the BBC Trust, Chris Patten. [10]

In April 2018, SSF hosted another West End fundraiser, "Trial of Richard III", this time at the Novello Theatre. [11] The cast included Hugh Dennis, David Oakes, Kae Alexander, Lady Justice Hallett, Ian Winter QC and John Kelsey Fry QC [12] with contributions from Ed Vaizey MP, Maggie Aderin Pocock and Tim Campbell. [13]

Patrons [14]

Trustees [15]

Education Advisors [16]

Related Research Articles

<i>Hamlet</i> Tragedy by William Shakespeare

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often shortened to Hamlet, is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts Prince Hamlet and his attempts to exact revenge against his uncle, Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father in order to seize his throne and marry Hamlet's mother.

<i>Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead</i> 1966 play by Tom Stoppard

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is an absurdist, existential tragicomedy by Tom Stoppard, first staged at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1966. The play expands upon the exploits of two minor characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet, the courtiers Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and the main setting is Denmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judi Dench</span> English actress (born 1934)

Dame Judith Olivia Dench is an English actress. Widely considered one of Britain's greatest actresses, she is noted for her versatile work in various films and television programmes encompassing several genres, as well as for her numerous roles on the stage. Dench has garnered various accolades throughout a career spanning over six decades, including an Academy Award, a Tony Award, two Golden Globe Awards, four British Academy Television Awards, six British Academy Film Awards and seven Olivier Awards.

<i>Hamlet</i> (1996 film) 1996 film directed by Kenneth Branagh

Hamlet is a 1996 epic historical drama film and an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, adapted and directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also stars as Prince Hamlet. The film also features Derek Jacobi as King Claudius, Julie Christie as Queen Gertrude, Kate Winslet as Ophelia, Michael Maloney as Laertes, Richard Briers as Polonius, and Nicholas Farrell as Horatio. Other cast members include Robin Williams, Gérard Depardieu, Jack Lemmon, Billy Crystal, Rufus Sewell, Charlton Heston, Richard Attenborough, Judi Dench, John Gielgud, and Ken Dodd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Brook</span> English theatre and film director (1925–2022)

Peter Stephen Paul Brook was an English theatre and film director. He worked first in England, from 1945 at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, from 1947 at the Royal Opera House, and from 1962 for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). With them, he directed the first English-language production in 1964 of Marat/Sade by Peter Weiss, which was transferred to Broadway in 1965 and won the Tony Award for Best Play, and Brook was named Best Director. He also directed films such as an iconic version of Lord of the Flies in 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geraint Wyn Davies</span> Welsh-Canadian actor

Geraint Wyn Davies is a Welsh-Canadian-American stage, film and television actor. Educated in Canada, he became a citizen of the United States in 2006. His most famous role as the vampire-turned police detective Nick Knight in the Canadian television series Forever Knight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Emerson</span> American actor (born 1954)

Michael Emerson is an American actor who is best known for his roles as Benjamin Linus on Lost (2006–2010) and as Harold Finch in the CBS series Person of Interest (2011–2016). Other prominent roles include Zep Hindle in the horror film Saw (2004) and the recurring role of Cayden James on Arrow (2017–2018). He currently stars as Dr. Leland Townsend in the Paramount+ thriller series Evil (2019–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver Ford Davies</span> English actor

Oliver Robert Ford Davies is an English actor and writer, best known for his extensive theatre work, and to a broader audience for his role as Sio Bibble in Star Wars Episodes I to III. He is also known for his role as Maester Cressen in HBO series Game of Thrones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harriet Walter</span> British actress (born 1950)

Dame Harriet Mary Walter is a British actress. Known for her extensive work in numerous Royal Shakespeare Company productions, Walter has received an Olivier Award as well as nominations for a Tony Award, five Emmy Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2011, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to drama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Hamlet</span> Character in Hamlet

Prince Hamlet is the title character and protagonist of William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet (1599–1601). He is the Prince of Denmark, nephew to the usurping Claudius, and son of King Hamlet, the previous King of Denmark. At the beginning of the play, he is conflicted whether, and how, to avenge the murder of his father, and struggles with his own sanity along the way. By the end of the tragedy, Hamlet has caused the deaths of Polonius, Laertes, Claudius, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two acquaintances of his from childhood. He is also indirectly involved in the deaths of his love Ophelia (drowning) and of his mother Gertrude.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Praemium Imperiale</span> Japanese arts prize

The Praemium Imperiale is an international art prize inaugurated in 1988 and awarded since 1989 by the Imperial family of Japan on behalf of the Japan Art Association in the fields of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and theatre/film.

Richard Burton's Hamlet is a common name for both the Broadway production of William Shakespeare's tragedy that played from April 9 to August 8, 1964 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, and for the filmed record of it that has been released theatrically and on home video.

Please note: Shakespeare Schools Festival became Shakespeare Schools Foundation in 2016. The Festival is the charity's flagship project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Howe (actor)</span>

George Winchester Howe was an English actor who played numerous stage roles, was a frequent broadcaster on radio and television and appeared in four feature films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Oakes</span> English actor (born 1983)

Rowan David Oakes is a British actor. He is best known for his roles in the series The Pillars of the Earth, The Borgias, The White Queen, Victoria, Vikings: Valhalla, and for his discursive Natural History podcast, Trees A Crowd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ophelia</span> Character in Shakespeares drama Hamlet

Ophelia is a character in William Shakespeare's drama Hamlet (1599–1601). She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes and potential wife of Prince Hamlet, who, due to Hamlet's actions, ends up in a state of madness that ultimately leads to her drowning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shakespeare in the Park festivals</span> Outdoor festivals featuring productions of William Shakespeares plays

Shakespeare in the Park is a term for outdoor festivals featuring productions of William Shakespeare's plays. The term originated with the New York Shakespeare Festival in New York City's Central Park, originally created by Joseph Papp. This concept has been adapted by many theatre companies, and over time, this name has expanded to encompass outdoor theatre productions of the playwright's works performed all over the world.

Simon Godwin is an English theatre director based in Washington, DC, where he is currently serving as artistic director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company. Previously he was based in London, serving as associate director of London's National Theatre, associate director of the Royal Court Theatre and associate director at Bristol Old Vic.

<i>Ophelia</i> (2018 film) 2018 film by Claire McCarthy

Ophelia is a 2018 historical romantic drama film directed by Claire McCarthy and written by Semi Chellas about the character of the same name from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. Based on the novel by Lisa Klein, the film follows the story of Hamlet from Ophelia's perspective. It stars Daisy Ridley in the title role, alongside Naomi Watts, Clive Owen, George MacKay, Tom Felton and Devon Terrell. The dialogue is in modern English.

Chris Grace (1946), MBE, is a British broadcaster, film director and founder and former CEO of The Shakespeare Schools Festival. In 2000 he was awarded an MBE and a BAFTA special for services to screen animation.

References

  1. ↑ "Shakespeare Schools Foundation - About Us". www.shakespeareschools.org. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  2. ↑ "Mission and values". Shakespeare Schools Foundation. Shakespeare Schools Foundation.
  3. ↑ "Shakespeare Schools Foundation - Mission & values". www.shakespeareschools.org. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  4. ↑ "Shakespeare Schools Foundation - Curriculum resources". www.shakespeareschools.org. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  5. ↑ "Shakespeare Schools Foundation - Workshops". www.shakespeareschools.org. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  6. ↑ "Wirral pupils celebrate Shakespeare in special performance at Number 10". Wirral Globe.
  7. ↑ "Hamlet to stand trial on West End stage charged with murder of Polonius". The Guardian. 25 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "Not guilty - Hamlet cleared of murder in live courtroom drama on stage". Independent.ie. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  9. ↑ Smurthwaite, Nick (2018-07-16). "How Shakespeare Schools Foundation is 'turning children's lives around'". The Stage. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  10. ↑ "All recipients - Praemium Imperiale". www.praemiumimperiale.org. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  11. ↑ correspondent, Owen Bowcott Legal affairs (2018-04-20). "My naked villany: top judge to preside over West End trial of Richard III". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  12. ↑ "Shakespeare Schools Foundation - Trial of Richard III: Meet the cast". www.shakespeareschools.org. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  13. ↑ "Shakespeare Schools Foundation - Trial of Richard III: Meet the cast". www.shakespeareschools.org. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  14. ↑ "Shakespeare Schools Foundation - Patrons". www.shakespeareschools.org. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  15. ↑ "Shakespeare Schools Foundation - Trustees & Advisors". www.shakespeareschools.org. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  16. ↑ "Shakespeare Schools Foundation - Trustees & Advisors". www.shakespeareschools.org. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.