Shakespeare Schools Festival

After months of preparations, a cast of Year 6 pupils performed their version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Albany Theatre on Monday 11th November. Most of the school were lucky enough to see a dress rehearsal in school and it only got better and better with every run-through.

From the drama of the couples to be married and the feuding fairies to the hilarious, calamitous workers, rehearsing their play within the play, the audience were captivated and hugely entertained through every second of each performance. It was truly amazing to watch them - staff and parents couldn't have been prouder.

A huge thank you has to go to Janet for working with the children since before the summer holiday, giving them the structure and direction that let them all shine so brightly on stage with their unique and committed interpretations of the characters. Thank you also to the staff who attended the performance and especially those who supervised them all day at the theatre.

The video is too long to work on our website but it can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

As well as the main performance, the children had the opportunity to wow a room full of people at a gala dinner to raise money for the SSF foundation. Their show entertained the crowd and impressed actors from the theatre and TV industry. Even Nicholas Hytner, a well-renowned theatre director who was responsible for the incredible version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bridge Theatre, could not resist coming backstage to express his admiration for what he had seen. We are sure that the children have potential acting careers in their future.

See Shakespeare Schools Foundation's own article about their event here.

"On behalf of everyone at Shakespeare Schools Foundation, an enormous thank you to you, your team, and the talented and brilliant pupils of Arnhem Wharf School who really did bring the house down at Senate House yesterday. So many of our guests have told me how much they enjoyed the performances and we heard many laughs and saw just as many tears! The performances really were shining examples of the brilliant things that we see coming out of the Festival, and I hope your pupils feel rightly proud of all their hard work."
- Ruth from SSF

"It was a joy working with you and your pupils - I can't remember meeting a more enthusiastic and creative group of actors!"
- Francesca from SSF