Attractions with links to the Bard will be hosting a variety of school friendly events during and after the week dedicated to the poet and playwright.
Shakespeare Week will run between 12th and 18th March and see children all over the country take part in a range of experiences that explore William Shakespeare’s life, works and times.
Organised by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Shakespeare Week also provides teachers with free resources and fun ideas to discover and celebrate Shakespeare.
From dressing up to Shakespearean tennis
This year’s Shakespeare Week will have a storytelling and poetry theme and the trust is working with organisations including The Story Museum, The Woodland Trust and libraries nationwide to bring Shakespeare’s stories to life.
On a trip to London for Shakespeare week, school groups can experience the Bard on a Bus tour, taking in the various sites that have links to him, and experience the sights, sounds and smells of the past, as they listen to stories about the Bard.
Between the 12th and 16th March, school visits to Gawthorpe Hall, in Burnley, will involve hands-on activities themed around Shakespeare. Pupils will take part in a workshop in which they will brainstorm what they know about the writer, learn Shakespearean tennis, dress up in Tudor clothing and learn about swordplay.
From 26th to 30th March, pupils are invited to visit Pontefract Castle and take part in a Drama workshop called Richard II: Discovering Shakespeare at Pontefract Castle, exploring the links between the poet and the castle, and with advice on performing from a costumed Shakespeare character.
Those wanting a theatre-based trip can visit the Trust’s West End studios to enjoy bespoke workshops led by professional actors and explore different techniques. These workshops are among many different sessions and events that will be taking place during Shakespeare Week.
Teachers looking for more inspiration and ideas can visit the workshop pages of the Shakespeare Week website.
Does your school have plans to celebrate Shakespeare Week? Let us know what you’re doing by e-mailing editorial@schooltravelorganiser.com - we’d love to hear from you!
For more information, visit www.shakespeareweek.org.uk.
Image: Shakespeare’s Birthplace (Photo credit: Amy Murrell)
