Shakespeare & Drama
Our lineup for 2022 Shakespeare Festival
2022 Shakespeare Plays: Lower 1st All the World’s a Stage Upper 1st A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2MC Much Ado About Nothing 2C Romeo and Juliet 3B Macbeth 3S The Tempest 4N Henry V 4M The Comedy of Errors 5H The Merry Wives of Windsor (pt 2) 5S The Merry Wives of Windsor (pt 1) 6M Twelfth Night 6W Anthony and Cleopatra …
- Nov
- 13
On Wednesday Mr Wilcock and I had the great pleasure of being the audience for this year’s Lower 1st Shakespeare production. As you are aware, due to unavoidable circumstances, the production was videoed only. In many ways this presented much more of a challenge to the children because there was no audience to help draw out their performance. In addition to this some scenes needed more than one or two takes. It is hard to know where to begin to commend the children for their focus, enthusiasm, co-operation, maturity and self-discipline. Shakespeare provides us with an opportunity to develop these qualities in the children in a unique way which serves everybody. Di Renshaw Deputy Headmistress …
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Increasing maturity as readers
In English, this past week, 6N looked at how the title and cover of our class text, and our predictions about it, relate and connect to other books, to our personal lives and to society at large. The children offered insightful comments about familiar and memorable stories, experiences they have lived and ‘big ideas’ or concepts with similar themes. This demonstrates the increasing maturity the children are showing towards the content they are exploring in class. I have noticed this in Shakespeare lessons also, with the children showing great interest in exploring the themes and characters of the play Romeo and Juliet. On the subject of Shakespeare, this week we had our first dance lesson with choreographer, Miss Bianca. …
Auditions for Shakespeare Club
We had a very successful Shakespeare club this year and looking forward to doing it all again in 2020!Auditions for Shakespeare Club 2020 will be held in the Music Room on Wednesday 5th February in 2 sessions 7:15am-8:15am OR 1pm-1:30pm.Children should prepare a short Shakespeare monologue (no longer than 1 minute) to be performed without a script to the best of their ability.Miss Emanuel will be looking for the following criteria: Strong, clear voices Lines learnt off by heart A good expressive connection with the text A committed and dedicated attitude Positive code of conduct  The aim of the club is to perform at various events including; Northern Beaches Eisteddfod as well as any other opportunities that are presented …
Deputy Head’s Comment
Lower 1st performed in their first Shakespeare production this year and entertained us all with their clear diction and well-rehearsed stagecraft. Every child performed their part with enthusiasm and attention. Every detail had been carefully considered right down to the beautiful character drawings in the program. It was wonderful to see some of our future parents in the audience to see what young children can achieve after one year at school. It is always striking to witness the ability that such young children have, to connect with the depth of meaning in the words of Shakespeare. Di Renshaw Deputy Headmistress …
Curtain comes down on a great finale
It has been a very successful year for our Shakespeare Club members! The club finished their activities for the year with a party this week, but our Director Zoe Emanuel is already planning for next year. 5th and 6th class students are welcome to enrol for the group at the start of 2020. Our Midsummer Night’s Dream performance group came third in the Scene section of the Sydney Eisteddfod last weekend. The 12 other scenes in the competition where all performed by high schools, so our students really shone!In March, our Shakespeare Club’s Romeo and Juliet group won the Scene section of the Sport for Jove Shakespeare Carnival. Now Miss Emanuel and our Primary students and teachers (Years 3 …