West Bromwich students take Shakespeare studies to London’s Globe Theatre

Students from Years 8, 9 and 10 at West Bromwich Collegiate Academy took part in a Shakespeare drama workshop earlier this year, culminating in a visit to London’s historic Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre to watch a live performance of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and explore some of London’s key cultural landmarks.

In the weeks leading up to the trip, students attended a series of sessions at the Academy, led by a visiting practitioner from the Globe. Through practical activities and live scene work, they explored character development, dramatic tension and staging techniques that are characteristic of Shakespearean drama. 

Associate Principal, Hannah Percival, said: “Too often, young people can feel that places like the Globe belong to somebody else. Experiences like this are important because they help students see that these spaces, opportunities and cultural conversations belong to them as well. 

“For many of our students, this was their first time experiencing live Shakespeare in a professional theatre setting. Seeing them engage with the performance so thoughtfully and confidently was incredibly rewarding, as it showed just how powerful learning can be when students experience it beyond the classroom.” 

The workshops formed part of the Globe’s wider education and outreach programme. Opened in 1997 as a reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe is internationally recognised for bringing Shakespeare’s work to life through performance and learning. 

The Academy said it will continue to develop opportunities of this kind, with a focus on experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom and enrich students’ cultural and educational development.