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Our company work all year
round in education, taking our practical knowledge into the classroom
and developing work that springs directly from our experience as
professional theatre practitioners. Our core company are CRB checked
Equity members with extensive experience, drama school training
and/or related BA (Hons) degrees. Our Artistic director is a qualified
stage combat teacher with the British Academy of Dramatic Combat,
originally the Society of British Fight Directors at Equity, and
all company members are trained for performance stage fighting to
the highest level. Our Education Officer is a qualified primary
teacher with a B.(Ed) Drama degree and over 10 years teaching experience.
He also has a MA in creative writing for children
Shakespeare in Performance
A week long participatory workshop and production experience normally
suitable for 11-16yr olds
An exciting and challenging week long group project with professional
theatre practitioners culminating in a performance of Shakespearean
scenes from some of the best known plays in the cannon. From the
initial stages of casting and script adaptation to detailed directorial
and creative input, we aim to motivate and inspire participants
through workshops exploring practical approaches to Shakespeare.
By combining our practical knowledge as working practitioners with
accessible theoretical approaches, we compliment academic study
of Shakespeare by focusing on the more experiential elements of
performance. In order to help participants develop an understanding
and appreciation of Shakespeare we work in detail on theories of
acting and stagecraft, focusing on characterization, interpretation
of text and performance skills. These new skills are put into practice
throughout the week and culminate in a performance of selected scenes.
This rewarding week long project aims to help
students overcome any difficulties or fears of Shakespeare and his
language, and is an enjoyable way to develop valuable new skills
and strategies that will help them approach classic texts and performance
in the future. We particularly aim to enable students to cultivate
their own unique personal creativity, so that the resulting performances
truly represent their own work of which they can be proud. This
project is specifically designed to enhance personal confidence
and understanding, and encourage a healthy appreciation of Shakespeare.
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Workshops accompanying shows
Want to see how to de-construct texts and learn how a professional
actor approaches their part? These workshops accompany our theatrical
productions as we source our collective rehearsal process and give
insights into the way to make Shakespeare and classic texts accessible.
Other Workshops
Works Well can also offer other educational workshops which can
be tailored to fit your school or syllabus requirements. One day
workshops focusing on Shakespeare, and examining the historical
backdrops for his plays. From Agincourt to life in Elizabethan England,
we examine the historical reality of Shakespeare’s time and
can provide a specialised insight into arms, armour and fencing.
We can also offer workshops and performance based lectures on several
other areas of literature and history, such as the story of the
Norman Conquest or the ancient Greek drama of Sophocles.
Owing to the experience and qualifications of our core company we
are able to successfully adapt most of our workshops to accommodate
primary to undergraduate level
Comments:
Emma Jones, teacher, Stoke Park junior
school, Bishopstoke.
‘What a fantastic day it was yesterday.
The workshops went brilliantly - the feedback from both staff and
children has been very positive. The sessions were totally
interactive and very enjoyable, for both staff and children alike.
We particularly appreciated the humour!
From a professional point of view, it was useful to see how drama
can be used as a stimulus for other areas of the curriculum.
Christopher Lambert,
head of Drama, Langley Grammar School
I would just like to congratulate the company on their
highly polished and professional series of workshops at our school.
The advice and expertise offered were invaluable and we look forward
to inviting them back
Jamie
Wood, 15, Student
I don’t enjoy Shakespeare but this workshop
brought more excitement to his work
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