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Posted on July 2nd 2024
Year 8 Transported Back Four Centuries at The Globe
The 30th anniversary of the opening of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London was the occasion for 30 of our Year 8 students to attend a spectacular performance of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew at the theatre recently.
The production was a combination of old and new, with audience participation, puppetry and bawdy humour, and we were treated to the most visual of presentations of Shakespeare's play.
The boys were transported back four centuries within the historically reconstructed 'wooden O' of the theatre, serving as a time machine to authentically recreate the contemporary experience of the play. With its plot of double crosses, disguise and social commentary it operated between the parameters of pantomime, social commentary and densely plotted bawdy humour.
Viewing the performance as groundlings (standing before the stage) our perseverance was challenged as the play ran to over two and a half hours! However, the engagement and interaction of the performers and our students will linger long as memories of a first authentic Shakespearean production.
The group were a credit to the school, receiving in transit a compliment from a member of the public on their considerate and polite behaviour towards other travellers, following instructions and conducted themselves excellently throughout.
Richard Exley, English Teacher
