Port Regis children and families treated to performance of 'As You Like It'

Published on isbi School News dated Tuesday 5th of November 2013

The children and families of Port Regis were treated to a wonderful performance of Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' on Friday 13th September from theatre company Shakespeare Aloud!, the world's leading charity in promoting the works, life and times of William Shakespeare and making Shakespeare's plays accessible to everyone.

The event was to take place in the school's Rose Garden but wet weather dictated a move inside to Centenary Hall where many a school play has been performed. Year 5 children upwards were in attendance with their families to watch a cast of six, cleverly deliver a condensed version of the play. There were lots of swift costume changes (as each actor played two or three characters in the play), plenty of comedy and even a ukulele orchestra and there was much laughter throughout the performance. Guests enjoyed a twenty minute interval of fizz and canapés before congregating back in the Hall for the second half, which ended with everyone getting married in the final scene!

Port Regis' collaboration with Shakespeare Aloud! is a new and exciting initiative designed to introduce the school's pupils to Shakespeare and help foster a genuine interest in and appreciation of his work. The school welcomed Jennifer Hodges from Shakespeare Aloud! as 'Actor in Residence' from the start of this new academic year and Jennifer will deliver the school's termly productions as well as the LAMDA coaching another new initiative for the academic year. She will also be involved in future productions of Shakespeare plays to be performed by Shakespeare Aloud! at school.

It was a very enjoyable evening for everyone and marked a great introduction to Shakespeare at Port Regis.

Headmaster Benedict Dunhill said of this new collaboration with Shakespeare Aloud! 'We are thrilled to have Jennifer amongst us as a professional actor, she brings new qualities and enormous experience to the school. Properly introduced, children can enjoy Shakespeare from a young age and this type of production and the workshops with the actors themselves, enable children to understand the plot and staging of plays by one of our nation's most treasured authors'.