Off island trip to Stratford
On the 7th October, the English Department was able to take our Sixth Form Literature students to Stratford-Upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace. On Friday, students enjoyed a lecture by Dr Jennifer Waghorn on ‘Hamlet’ which helped to consolidate the students’ learning whilst enjoying the beautiful setting and Tudor architecture of Harvard House. This was then followed by an informative backstage tour of the RSC theatre itself, where the students were able to gain a valuable insight into the Art Deco origins of this fantastic building originally designed by Elisabeth Scott. It is perhaps pertinent to note that this was the first important work erected in Britain from the designs of a female architect; moreover, she began designing this building prior to the Equal Franchise Act of 1928.
In the evening, students were treated to a thought-provoking performance of Shakespeare’s ‘Richard III’, confronting issues of ableism with the eponymous character played by Arthur Hughes, the first disabled actor to play Shakespeare’s supervillain.
On Saturday, students were given the opportunity to explore Shakespeare’s house, as well as the beautiful Holy Trinity Church, site of Shakespeare’s burial. In the evening, we were all entertainedby a visually rich performance of ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’, with the highlight perhaps being the spectacular pulsating rave party where Helen, as the leading lady, manipulates Betram according to her own designs, with her unrestrainedambition making for compelling viewing given the context of a 400-year-old play. The portrayal of Helen’s character epitomised the theme of powerful women which threaded through the weekend.
The trip was altogether a wonderful opportunity for the students to experience the pictorial feast, diversity and depth of Shakespeare’s works, brought aliveby the stage. What is perhaps most compelling, however, is that the contemporaryperformances of Shakespeare’s plays show how his writing is just as relevant today, as it was in the 16th century.
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