This year forms in years seven, eight and nine performed role-plays in the theme of one of Shakespeare’s plays to celebrate St George’s day, the 444th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth.
The forms either got into groups or did a whole form performance. This year we had to choose a subject themed on Shakespeare’s play ‘A Midsummer night’s dream’ and then create a story six months from when the play ended. The subjects were: The Lovers, The Mechanicals (Bottom, Flute, Quince) and The Fairies. We were given two weeks to practise our role-play, year eight a little less due to a school trip.
I watched the year eight role-plays one of which was a whole form performance. The fairies seemed to be a popular theme with many of the groups choosing this for their stories. All of the plays were well performed and witty. Although there are too many stories to mention, some of my favourites are as follows: Oberon and Titania are finally fed up with each other and are arguing constantly. They are so tired of each other they file a divorce; The Mechanicals are casting parts for ‘The knights at the round table’ Bottom is furious as he has got the part of being the round table when he felt he could have been a dashing Aurthur or a blushing Genevieve. What infuriates him more is that the other less gifted actors have got the main parts, so he hatches a plan to ruin the play so he can perform it by himself.
Throughout the performances the viewers heard many catchy lines or witty quotations. Frankie, IIK, said ‘It was really fun and exciting to perform our story and watch other people’s performances.’ Kiashini, IIB, said ‘I found others peoples performances very funny and it was interesting to see the variety of ideas other people used.’
All in all, Shakespeare day was a huge success and I hope it will be fantastic next year as well, as William Shakespeare said ‘To be, or not to be…’

Becca, IIK