Schools from across Kent gathered at The Marlowe Theatre to perform a new version of one of William Shakespeare’s most iconic plays.
Each of the 22 schools, including five from Thanet, involved tackled a scene from Hamlet, coming together to tell the abridged story of The Bard’s renowned tragedy across two performances on Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 June.
Being staged in The Marlowe’s main auditorium, Hamlet: Something Rotten was the culmination of a months-long rehearsal process, as part of The Marlowe’s partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) Associate Schools Programme.
Throughout rehearsals, teachers at the participating schools received training from Royal Shakespeare Company practitioners at The Marlowe, with RSC rehearsal room techniques deeply imbedded into their classrooms.
With directors and theatre makers from The Marlowe working collaboratively with these schools, this production represented young people’s views of one of Shakespeare’s best-known stories. It also opened the world of theatre to young people who may not have had the chance to experience it before.
Among the schools taking part were Bromstone Primary School, Broadstairs, Dane Court Grammar School, Broadstairs, Foreland Fields School, Ramsgate, King Ethelbert School, Birchington and Palm Bay Primary School, Margate.
The Marlowe’s Director of Learning and Participation, Roxan Kamali-Sarvestani said: “We’re very excited to celebrate the months of hard work put in by the schools, The Marlowe and the RSC.
“We’ve had fantastic feedback already from our partner schools, who have watched pupils grow in confidence and flourish throughout the process. It highlights the impact we have on the creative and educational landscape of our region, bringing together young people, artists and theatre makers to inspire each other.
“We’d like to thank the teachers and parents who have put their all into supporting this project, as well as the Royal Shakespeare company and Marlowe staff for helping create such a successful collaboration.”
