From the English Coordinator

Bell Shakespeare ‘Players’ perform at SAC

Describing the performances by the Bell Shakespeare Company ‘Players’ is best done  by paraphrasing Shakespeare himself; “By the pricking of my thumbs, something [wonderful] this way comes”! This year’s shows focussed on single plays, perfectly aligned with our curriculum – Romeo & Juliet for Year 10s and Macbeth for Year 11s. The performances drew out the main events and concerns of Shakespeare’s timeless tales, using humour, contemporary speech and banter between the cast to better enable student engagement and understanding.

A few students shared their responses:

“In the midst of Book Week, Year 11 students had the opportunity to watch the Bell Shakespeare Company’s performance of Macbeth. This was a thoroughly enjoyable performance which deepened my understanding of William Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. Going into the performance I had little knowledge of the text. however the interactive components made the storyline easy to follow. The performance struck a balance between educational and humorous, making it entertaining and allowing me to gain a deeper appreciation of Shakespeare’s work.” Liliana

“Through dynamic performances and clever direction, the production made Shakespeare’s language and themes approachable for a student audience.The balance of humour and drama captured out attention and created an enjoyable and education experience that has deepened our understand and appreciation of the text.” Isabel

“The Players’ show was both engaging and insightful, offering a clearer understanding of Romeo and Juliet. I particularly appreciated how the actors balanced humour with the play’s serious themes, making the story fun while remaining true to Shakespeare’s work. Their interpretation highlighted the complexity of the characters and the consequences of their choices. My favourite moment was the intense sword fight, which powerfully conveyed the conflict and foreshadowed the tragedy to come.” Amelia

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