Shakespeare around the world
Did you know that children in every continent of the world study Shakespeare? From pupils in Denmark studying Hamlet, to 15-year-olds in China learning scenes from The Merchant of Venice, millions of students are introduced to his stories every year.
Shakespeare’s Globe
Shakespeare’s Globe theatre in London welcomes school groups throughout the year to find out more about Shakespeare and why his plays remain so popular. More than 20,000 high school students come to us from Germany each year, with thousands more visiting from the Netherlands, Singapore, the USA and South Africa,
among many others. They all come to see the reconstructed open-air theatre where Shakespeare worked 400 years ago, and many have the chance to perform on the world-famous stage.
But Globe Education doesn’t just work in the UK. We visit schools and cities around the world, taking part in all kinds of exciting Shakespeare projects. This includes giving drama workshops at the Shakespeare4All festival in Hong Kong, working with children at British Forces Schools in Cyprus, and using Romeo and Juliet to teach conflict resolution in Beirut.
What do students themselves make of the world’s best-known playwright? Here are thoughts from two young people; one a native English speaker who lives not far from the Globe in London, and the other an Italian for whom English, let alone Shakespeare’s language, is not his mother tongue. They told First News what Shakespeare means
to them.
Maisie Golding, UK
“I honestly used to dislike studying Shakespeare at school. Then last year I saw As You Like It at the Globe, which totally changed my mind. It brought Shakespeare to life and made him real and understandable. After that, when I read Shakespeare the words came to life on the page, as I could see it in my mind on the stage.
This prompted me to join the Globe Youth Theatre and learn more. I have learnt so much and gained an insight into professional theatre and how an actor can use the Globe’s unique space to make a performance magical.
“The Youth Theatre practitioners and the summer school tutors have been amazing mentors and have transformed my acting skills for the better. Shakespeare has become really special to me and so has the Globe. I hope that one day I will be back as a professional, performing and teaching.”
Niccolo Porcedda, Italy
“I really enjoyed studying Shakespeare at school in Italy and so I decided that I wanted to come to the UK to study him in his own country, using his own words, as part of a hands-on course.
“The first day of the summer school was really tough for me. There were new people, a very intensive day of work, and obviously difficult language. But now I know that I made the right choice because I’ve really enjoyed this course and learnt so much.
“I now know that the body is a fantastic machine, and it’s even better if you know how it works. I now know that the voice is one of the most powerful things you can put on a stage. I now really understand the beauty of Shakespeare’s words and I now know that I am an actor.”
For more info, visit www.shakespearesglobe.com/education
Words by Maisie Golding and Niccolo Porcedda
Picture credits
Top: Pawel Libera
Bottom: Simon Kane