Shakespeare Day at the Stahl

Approaching Shakespeare’s plays through performance has become an established way at Oundle of introducing the dramatic aspects of the texts. Shakespeare Day gives every pupil in the Second Form the chance to shine on the stage of the Stahl Theatre in front of an appreciative audience of family and friends, and this year’s celebration of Shakespeare was as imaginative and impressive as ever.

The afternoon was introduced by Will Shakespeare Save Us, a one act play presenting a comic mash-up of famous scenes and speeches from Shakespeare’s plays. Versions of three of the most popular plays, abridged by an English Department class teacher, were then performed by different classes.

Across all four sets, the command of Shakespeare’s verse was assured, and the enthusiasm and enjoyment were evident in the pupils’ dramatic enactment of revelry, pathos, tragedy and, of course, sword play. It is clear there are plenty of keen actors in the Second Form.

Class performances of Shakespeare began as a tradition in the nineteenth century when Headmaster Frederick Sanderson introduced a “dramatic recitation” of a different play staged every term in the Great Hall. By taking a turn on the stage, the less confident pupils would develop “quite unexpected abilities”, and by reciting and acting they would learn the language and meaning of Shakespeare.