Festival Timeline

May/June

Teacher Director workshops with our partners, Discover: National Theatre

The National Theatre’s full-day workshop for Teacher Directors will be led by actors and directors who combine NT experience with a knowledge of directing Shakespeare with young people. The sessions are designed to empower teachers to work confidently with Shakespeare and embrace the challenge of telling a clear story with young actors working in an unfamiliar style.
Your workshop will provide:
- a toolkit of staging techniques and text exercises from the NT’s rehearsal rooms
- an opportunity to discuss ideas and questions with other teachers with SSF experience

June

Teacher Director full day workshop for Special Schools with Purple Patch Arts 

A workshop in inclusive performance for Teacher Directors from Special Schools is included in the registration fee. The workshops are delivered for the third year running by Vicky Ackroyd.

September

Cast workshops with the National Youth Theatres of the UK

This half day workshop will bring together performers from different schools and will consist of warm-up games, team building exercises and vocal/physical preparation work building on the work begun in the Teacher Director workshops. This is a valuable opportunity for the Teacher Director and Cast to meet the Festival team and to discuss technical requirements (light, sound, props) with the theatre staff. The workshops will be led by experienced Associate Artists, all of whom are professional actors and/or directors. Participants will leave feeling invigorated, confident and focused.

October/November

Performance day

Each cast goes to their designated professional theatre for a half day technical and dress rehearsal. Supported by a professional theatre director and the theatre technicians, they will have the chance to fine-tune the play before the final performance. In the evening, 4 schools will perform 4 different plays in a hugely celebratory and exciting end to the Festival.