Shakespeare Schools Festival

The QE experience > Drama Performance > Shakespeare Schools Festival

Billed as the world’s largest youth drama festival, the Shakespeare Schools Festival forms an annual focus and highlight for QE Drama during the Autumn Term.

Pupils work with QE staff, our drama providers Rough Magicke and external experts from the Shakespeare Schools Foundation to stage abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays. Through their work, boys develop a greater understanding and appreciation of the work of Britain’s greatest writer.

The process culminates in a performance evening at North Finchley’s Arts Depot, where cast and crew alike demonstrate in a professional theatre setting what they have learned from the months of preparation.

QE’s contribution to the festival has drawn wide acclaim in recent years. In 2016, as part of events marking the 400th anniversary of the bard’s death, not only did the School’s young actors perform The Merchant of Venice at the Arts Depot, but some were also invited to play key roles from Hamlet at the West End’s Wyndham Theatre in a unique VIP festival fundraiser featuring leading actors and celebrities.

"For never was there a story of more woe"

QE’s production of Romeo and Juliet was uncompromising and unflinching in its depiction of the brutal feud between the Montague and Capulet families. Special praise must go to the protagonists, Dhruv Pai and Anshul Nemai: it can’t be easy falling in love in front of an audience of your school mates, but it is a credit to both the cast and the audiences how convincingly this was handled.

“Cry ‘Havoc!’, and let slip the dogs of war”

QE actors mixed the language of Shakespeare with modern costumes and props to create a potent performance for our politically charged times. Julius Caesar is, among other things, a play about the relationships between leaders and their citizens – our production, featuring most cast members on stage most of the time, clearly demonstrated how impactful one voice can be on the many.

"O beware, my lord, of jealousy"

The boys' performance of Othello was a dark journey into the psychology of jealousy and revenge. Patrick played Iago with a hands-in-pockets insouciance that made his lies and plotting deliciously painful to watch, while Sultan gave the Moor a calm nobility as he met his tragic downfall. A strong ensemble cast delivered the highlight of QE's inaugural in-school Shakespeare Festival.

"To be or not to be"

In the midst of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the question was whether QE's version of Hamlet would be able to go ahead at all. With theatres around the country closed, the Year 9 cast delivered a powerful performance to their peers, able to gather as a year-group bubble. The energetic, but moving, telling received a rapturous reception, providing a memorable live-theatre experience.

"How far that little candle throws his beams!"

QE's actors shone in their performance of 'The Merchant of Venice' - a dark comedy which sheds light upon the shocking issue of antisemitism. The contemporary setting helped illuminate the themes at the heart of the play, which are as relevant today as when Shakespeare wrote it in the late 16th century.

"Once more unto the breach... once more"

In the first year of the new partnership with Rough Magicke Drama, the School again drew 'Henry V' as its production - presenting the challenge of delivering a different interpretation, whilst remaining true to the original text. Boys from across the year groups gave a moving performance, with an emotional and visually striking battle scene.

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends"

QE's actors once again stepped onto the boards of the ArtsDepot theatre in a production of 'Henry V'. The play covers the events immediately before and after the Battle of Agincourt, during the Hundred Years' War. Student director Mark Thomas oversaw a battle scene full of physicality and raw power.

"A stage where every man must play a part"

'The Most Excellent History of the Merchant of Venice' gave boys the chance to tackle a renowned comedy, whilst exploring its darker themes of prejudice and self-interest. Boys from Year 10 upwards participated as actors, directors and technicians.

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in't"

"Brevity is the soul of wit" and student directors Sahil Handa and Paavan Sawjani had the challenge of distilling the action of 'Hamlet', one of the bard's most famous tragedies, into just 30 minutes. Through the festival students learn the skills of direction, as well as gain the opportunity to perform in a professional theatre.

"An honest tale... simply told"

There was little discontent when 'Richard III' was chosen for QE's festival performance, with Alex Wingrave revelling in playing the part of one of Shakespeare's - and British history's - most notorious villains. A modern re-telling was crafted, including the use of contemporary choreography.

"What's done cannot be undone"

A team of 24 actors, technicians and marketing assistants toiled to deliver a memorable performance of The Scottish Play for a packed audience at the ArtsDepot in Finchley.