In an exciting virtual experience, our year 10 students delved into the enchanting world of Shakespeare’s Macbeth with a live lesson delivered by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). This  session helped our year 10 English learners develop an understanding of Shakespeare's stagecraft and intentions in the GCSE text Macbeth. 

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a prominent British theatre company headquartered in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. The RSC, with its grand legacy, stages approximately 20 productions annually, gracing audiences not only in Stratford-upon-Avon but also in London, across the UK, and worldwide.

The session began with a thought-provoking "agree or disagree" activity, where our learners had to forecast the intriguing dynamics between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.  

This activity set the stage for a deeper exploration as our learners observed RSC actors rehearse Act 1, Scene 5, and Act 2. The actors and the director provided invaluable insights into how they interpret the play's language from a modern perspective. It was a chance to see the creative process behind bringing the characters to life and understanding their relationships. The director's perspective shed light on the nuances of exchanges between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, enriching the learners' grasp of the play. 

Thanks to the RSC for moving this play beyond the confines of a classroom text, breathing life into the pages of Shakespeare and sparking a deeper appreciation for the beauty of the his work. 

Reflecting on this session learner Nina expressed "Learning about the characters' relationships and how they interact together on stage has been really insightful."