Youth spin on Shakespeare
Pupils at Warwickshire secondary schools will be enjoying a London theatre company’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night with a twist this month.
For the fortnight commencing on 3 November, ten schools will provide a stage for the Filter Theatre to perform their fast paced young people’s version of the play and put on workshops for the pupils.
Warwickshire County Council’s Arts in Warwickshire Education arranged for the theatre company to perform in the county for the two-week stint. The chance to see the play is a real treat for Warwickshire schools, particularly as only Warwickshire and London are included in Filter Theatre’s programme of school performances.
This acclaimed production of the Shakespearian comedy was originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company during the ‘Complete Works’ season which ran from April 2006 to April 2007. The play opened at the Tricycle Theatre in London in September 2008 and received a four star review from the Guardian and a place on the Sunday Times critical list.
Warwickshire County Councillor, Izzi Seccombe, Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Families said: “This is a great way to get young people interested in Shakespeare. The Filter Theatre’s retelling of this classic tale comes highly recommended and combined with the workshops will surely offer a valuable experience to the Warwickshire pupils taking part.”
Two of the Warwickshire schools will be participating in an extended project kick-started by the Filter Theatre performance and involving RSC practitioners and County Music Service working with English, Drama and Music departments to explore creative learning strategies with their pupils.