Standing Up For Shakespeare!

Notre Dame, Devonport High School for Boys, St Boniface College and Holy Cross Primary School brought together a complete version of William Shakespeare's As You Like It as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Shakespeare Festival.

The project took 3 months to complete and was designed to increase the enjoyment of Shakespeare. It grew out of the RSC's Stand Up For Shakespeare campaign which encourages students to see Shakespeare live, start it earlier, and put it on its feet in the classroom.

The Festival was about bringing different people together as one and about creating performances that use only Shakespeare's words. There have been 11 festivals nationally, with one school from each getting the chance to perform at the RSC in Stratford later in the year.

The Notre Dame production involved both English and Polish students and a mix of ages. The cast were dressed in black and white to show the symbolism of the ying and yang in the play and to focus on the importance of love and forgiveness.