06.21.06

Mags Is Famous

Posted in News at 11:31 pm by Administrator

Our Mags is world famous in Warwickshire! The following news story recently appeared on the Warwickshire City Council website:

Shakespeare on the buses
Tuesday 13th June, 2006

“It has been a fantastic experience with staff and children getting to know the play together, unleashing a lot of creativity. ”
Sue Mitchell

William Shakespeare is riding on the buses thanks to the children of Warwickshire.

Quotes from the Bard have been examined by children aged six and seven and re-interpreted for the modern era.

The results are available for all to see on Stagecoach buses travelling around the county. A mosaic poster of Shakespeare’s face composed of images of Warwickshire children performing his work is being displayed at Nuneaton and Rugby railway stations.

The posters are heralding the launch of the Mini Complete Works of Shakespeare Festival, which will see thousands of pupils taking part in the largest drama festival the county has seen.

Pupils aged five to 17 from all over Warwickshire will be performing at their schools to fellow students, parents and the public next week.

They will then gather in Stratford for a series of outdoor performances at the Dell, an outdoor theatre next to the Royal Shakespeare Company.

More than 70 schools will be taking part in the festival, which complements the RSC’s internationally acclaimed Complete Works festival. The Mini Complete Works has been organised by Warwickshire County Council’s Arts Zone.

Three schools helped the festival get off the ground by having Year 3 pupils look at some quotes and come up with their own suggestions as to what they meant.

‘All that glisters is not gold’ from Merchant of Venice was interpreted as ‘You don’t have to be showy to shine’ by youngsters at Queens CE Junior School in Nuneaton.

Two classes from Year 3 are involved in preparing scenes from the beginning of Romeo and Juliet bringing the rivalry between the Montagues and Capulets alive.

Teacher Sally Rowney said: “The children have enjoyed the preparations so much. They have talked about it constantly. When we heard about the opportunity to go to Stratford we took the chance to bring in a dance artist and they have been working with the children. Everyone is looking forward to it”

Children at St Marie’s Catholic Junior School in Rugby proclaimed ‘Going to work with friends is as good as a holiday’ after studying the following lines from Henry IV, Part 1.

“If all the year were playing holidays,To sport would beas tedious as to work”

Teacher Mags Delaney said: “We don’t usually do Shakespeare with younger children but they really enjoyed coming up with these ideas. Pupils from Year 6 will be performing a scene from the play in Stratford. Rehearsals are going well and everyone is looking forward to going to Stratford.”

Year One children at Telford Infant School in Leamington have developed a dance based on circles that has been inspired by the exchange of a bracelet and a ring in Cymbeline. They also contributed to the bus poster, saying ‘Don’t be bossy! – you might regret it one day’ in response to ‘ The smallest worm will turn, being trodden on’ from Henry VI, Part 3.

Teacher Sue Mitchell said: “It has been a fantastic experience with staff and children getting to know the play together, unleashing a lot of creativity. One of the children in my class said that it’s the best thing she’s done this year and I hope we cover Shakespeare at least once every year!”

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