Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is offering primary schools the chance to make Shakespeare accessible to youngsters this summer with an interactive workshop designed to complement its kid-friendly adaptation of comedy Twelfth Night.
Max Webster’s condensed take on Shakespeare’s deliciously silly tale of mistaken identity will play at the al fresco venue from 21 June to 12 July and is designed to be the perfect introduction to the Bard for everyone aged six and older.
Schools interested in attending the theatre’s annual young Shakespeare production will this year also have the chance to book a two hour workshop to take place at their school in advance of their theatre trip.
Devised by Sarah Gordon of the Young Shakespeare Company, the workshop will combine storytelling and drama to introduce children to the story, characters and language of Twelfth Night, enabling classes to get the most enjoyment possible out of their trip to the show.
As an added bonus, tickets for school groups will be discounted to £10 when booked in conjunction with a workshop, and one teacher goes free with every 10 tickets booked. London borough state primary schools can also apply for funding to help cover transport and ticket costs via the John Lyon’s Charity’s Access to Arts Fund.
Workshops will be available to book for weekday mornings or afternoons from 2 to 20 June and cost £150 for up to 30 children. Full information and a booking form can be found at www.openairtheatre.com/education
Twelfth Night plays as part of a season that also includes the return of To Kill A Mockingbird, an adaptation of a favourite book on secondary school syllabuses. Education group rates are also available for this revival, as well as for 2014’s new productions All My Sons, The Gershwins’ Porgy And Bess and Hobson’s Choice.