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Primary school children invited to rock with Shakespeare
Primary school children across the nation are set to rock with Shakespeare next spring for Shakespeare Week - the annual national schools celebration of Shakespeare. Kicking-off Shakespeare Week 2017 will be the Big Assembly, where primary schools can join in the celebrations with a new song composed by Shakespeare Rocks’s Steve Titford.
Shakespeare Week, led by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust will have a music theme. Julian Lloyd Webber, world-renowned musician and current principal of Birmingham Conservatoire is joining the celebrations as patron of Shakespeare Week 2017.
Shakespeare Week was established by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 2014 as a way to share and celebrate Shakespeare’s creative legacy with every primary school child in the country. In 2016, the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, more than 1.9 million children in 12,000 primary schools across the UK took part in Shakespeare Week - the biggest celebration of Shakespeare yet.
Julian Lloyd Webber, Patron of Shakespeare Week 2017 said, “I am delighted to be supporting Shakespeare Week 2017 and particularly excited about next year’s theme - what better way to introduce our children to Shakespeare than through the shared joy of music? I passionately believe that all children should have access to the very best of our country’s great cultural heritage, regardless of their background or circumstances.
“Shakespeare Week is a wonderful opportunity for primary school children, their teachers and families to discover the work of our greatest playwright in exciting, fun and sometimes surprising ways; I encourage everyone to get involved and embrace this fantastic programme.”
What’s happening during Shakespeare Week 2017: Shakespeare Rocks!
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is collaborating with Musicline School Musicals to create a number of new resources to support next year’s theme. Primary schools up and down the country are invited to join in the Big Assembly 2017 on 20 March to perform a brand new song composed by Shakespeare Rock’s Steve Titford especially for Shakespeare Week 2017. Registered schools will have free access to the musical score as well as vocal and backing tracks ready for the Big Assembly.
Shakespeare goes digital
The Passport to Shakespeare is going online. Thanks to a partnership with Coventry University and Digital Me children will have access to a free digital passport, containing fun activities and challenges to complete at home for a chance to earn special digital badges, designed by acclaimed children’s author Marcia Williams.
Telling Tales with the Tempest
Marcia Williams, author of Tales from Shakespeare will be reading The Tempest in five installments during Shakespeare Week. Every day, classes can tune in online to follow the story of Prospero, the wronged Duke of Milan and find out how he eventually reconciles with the brother who ousted him.
Free award-winning resources for schools and home educators
Shakespeare Week won Best Educational Initiative in the Museum and Heritage Awards 2015 for its resources, impact and engagement. Registered teachers will have access to over 150 free resources across every curriculum subject in KS1 and KS2, offering a fantastic suite of ideas and teaching aides to make Shakespeare fun for pupils. Home educators and families can also access these resources and celebrate Shakespeare Week 2017 at home.
Jacqueline Green, Head of Learning and Participation at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust said: “Shakespeare Week is now firmly established in the annual school calendar and we’re absolutely thrilled that in this special anniversary year, more children than ever before celebrated our nation’s literary great. Next year is set to be even bigger and better. The music theme will give primary school teachers the opportunity to take music into their classrooms and, with their children, to discover Shakespeare in new, intriguing and fun ways. We look forward to working with schools and our cultural partners to celebrate the true rock star that is William Shakespeare!”
Shakespeare Week is a free scheme for primary school children and their families, run by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. To register, access free resources and take part in Shakespeare Week 2017, visit www.shakespeareweek.org.uk
Photo: Y5 pupils from Dunchurch Junior School in Warwickshire (l-r Ruby, Matthew, Corey, Rose, Lily & Ben) enjoying a workshop in Shakespearian Music. Credit: Stewart Writtle/SBT.