Blue Spark Foundation

Deepcar St Johns Primary School, Sheffield took part in the Shakespeare Schools Festival 2018 with the aid of a grant from BlueSpark Foundation. This project gives children an opportunity to perform in a professional theatre setting were they perform a 30 minute adaptation of a Shakespeare play for a public audience. The children help to shape the play that they perform from their own improvisation and storytelling skills and build on those to create a finished piece.

Anne Danks, Class Teacher said “The children were able to learn about how shows in a professional theatre are put together and developed their speaking, listening and drama skills as a result of rehearsals and the performance. Putting on the show has increased their confidence and left them with really special memories of the time spent working on the project”.

Asked whether they achieved everything they set out to achieve Anne replied “ Yes. A special needs child was able to take part through becoming a lighting technician for the day and others who were initially reluctant relished their time on the stage. After the performance, they wanted to do it all again! They have come away with a love of performance as well as enthusiasm for Shakespeare and the language of Shakespeare, which will hopefully continue to grow and develop as they get older”.