Year 10 students from Thorns Collegiate Academy visited Stratford-upon-Avon to explore the life and work of William Shakespeare, including the art of theatre production.
The day began at Shakespeare’s birthplace, where students learned about Elizabethan society and the experiences that shaped the playwright’s work. Seeing the rooms, artefacts and surroundings where Shakespeare grew up brought history to life in a way classroom lessons alone cannot.
The group then visited the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) ‘The Play’s The Thing’ exhibition, a unique showcase of more than 400 years of theatre-making. Featuring items from the RSC’s collection and co-curated with local community groups, including young people displaced by conflict, the exhibition highlighted the creativity, skill and collaboration behind every production. Students explored authentic stage costumes, examined set designs, and discovered how productions such as King Lear are brought to life.
School Principal, Nikki Jones, said: “Seeing Stratford first-hand gave our students a deeper understanding of Shakespeare and his world. They experienced the creativity, teamwork and skill that go into theatre, and discovered how his plays explore the emotions and choices that shape lives, showing just why Shakespeare’s work has stood the test of time. It’s brought literature to life and inspired our students to engage with storytelling and the arts in new ways.”
The trip gave students a chance to see history, literature and theatre come together, offering experiences and insights that will inform their studies long after they returned to the classroom as well as inspiring them about career options that may be possible.
