Sixth Form News

On March 4th and 5th 2009 three girls set off with me for Stratford-Upon-Avon, whose literary significance I need not tell you.

Indeed, it was the time of year again for our two-day Shakespeare-fest there and the fortunate - and talented - girls to come this year were Frankie Hill, Charlotte McClean and Sophie Smith.  

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and the English Speaking Union combine to give 12 school teams from across the country the chance to debate 3 motions around Shakespeare and his works, to hear well-known literary critics discuss their theories and, this year, to hear an actor discuss his.

We are put up in a bed and breakfast, sent to the theatre, given vouchers with discounts for buying books, and altogether spoiled in our welter of Shakespeare. For me, it is a re-invigoration, a sort of injection of Shakespeare, which is a wonderful tonic in this hectic term.

This year, however, they included a Teachers' Debate which was less than invigorating for me and showed me just how difficult the task I ask the girls to do is. It's great when a teacher gets taught a lesson!

For the girls, it's scary, exhausting, but - I hope - fun. Frankie, Charlotte and Sophie rose to the occasion magnificently, doing their background research before they went, learning from workshops and other teams while there and making quite a significant impact on the judges.

The morning after seeing The Tempest (a South African production, full of verve and vigour, with the obvious coloniser/colonised implications, the cast led by Sir Antony Sher as a damaged Prospero) we were seated in a large circle to discuss the production and I was full of admiration at how closely they had watched it and how astute their ability to deconstruct it was. It is always a great privilege to accompany three girls as bright and receptive as these and watch them responding to Shakespeare.  

Later on in the morning, John Kani, who had played Caliban, came to talk to us and that was fascinating.   But the whole experience was fascinating and I'd like to thank Frankie, Charlotte and Sophie for coming and putting in so much effort at a time of year which was already ridiculously full, especially for the two IB girls. I hope that teams will benefit from the experience for many years to come.  

Jane Marriott