Acting Shakespeare
When I first joined the drama club, I had absolutely
no experience of acting Shakespeare, only ever
seeing it at a theatre. So when I was given the part of
Benedick for the upcoming plays, I was nervous, but
also really excited, as it was a way to take my acting
to a different level.
One of the most challenging parts was learning all
the lines and their complicated structures. It is hard to
learn a script when you wouldn’t normally use those
words in everyday life. Of course, as soon as lines had
been learnt, it was possible to start serious rehearsals.
Much to my surprise, it was not much harder to act
while reciting Shakespeare’s words; as long as you
know what the lines mean, you just go with what
feels right. The performances went by in a flash, and
I loved every single minute of it. I would definitely
love to do it all over again!
James Ellershaw, Year 7
Being a part of the cast for Will Shakespeare – Save
Us!/The Queen! was a great experience for me
because I found what it was like to be part of a big
company and to rely on the people around me to
create something good. It took a lot of rehearsals and
commitment, which sometimes clashed with sports
events, but I am so grateful to all my teachers for
being flexible so I could be part of the production.
I think one of the best parts was that I met a lot
of Year 7s I wouldn’t have known otherwise. It was
a great way for me to learn Shakespeare and to
understand more of his plays. I had an amazing time
playing the Lady Chamberlain and would definitely
recommend taking part in the Lower School play.
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2018-2019
Phoebe Gough-Cooper, Year 8
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