The play’s the thing

Junior school students enjoyed a thrilling live online storytelling of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale with the Globe Theatre

Hundreds of GDST Junior school students came together online for a thrilling live interactive performance of The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare. The event, part of a collaboration between the Girls’ Day School Trust and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, was the first in ‘A Shakespearean Spring at the Globe’, an exclusive series of online storytellings, performances and workshops designed to immerse younger GDST pupils in the world of Shakespeare’s plays.

One pupil from each GDST school was invited to join a virtual front row

Girls from Years 2, 3 and 4 from across the GDST’s family of schools logged on for the first performance, an exciting and engaging abridged performance of Shakespeare’s time-travelling, country-hopping play of misunderstandings, jealousy and a scary bear. It was performed by seasoned Globe actor and director Scott Brooksbank, involving magic, props and some participation from the audience.

Scott presented the Shakespearean story with great verve, ably assisted at times by a special audience: one pupil from each GDST school had been invited to join a virtual front row and were there to help with the show’s interactive elements, such as deciding what the King and Queen might eat for breakfast or the name of the royal puppy. (Freddy was decided on.)

Each school was given a resource pack for pupils which included a plot synopsis, character descriptions and suggestions for further offline work such as costumer design, creative short story writing or even crafting an imaginary letter to King Polixenes, the King of Bohemia.

The next live storytelling for GDST students with the Globe will be a performance of The Tempest on Tuesday 9 February, for pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. A live performance of Henry V will take place after half term for Years 5 and 6.