MAD ABOUT SHAKESPEARE
We welcomed Professor Sir Jonathan Bate CBE back to Sevenoaks in June for a glorious dip into Shakespeare , his own and the school ’ s past .
Old Sennockian Professor Sir Jonathan Bate ( OS 1976 ) painted an intricate image of what Shakespeare means to him at his talk about his book Mad About Shakespeare – From Classroom to Theatre to Emergency Room . Professor Bate captivated students , parents , staff and OS in the Pamoja Hall with his fascinating stories of how being a student at Sevenoaks School helped him to develop the passion which led to his distinguished academic career , including being Senior Research Fellow at Oxford , Provost of Worcester College , Foundation Professor of Environmental Humanities at Arizona , and author of many books .
I was fascinated to hear about life at Sevenoaks School in the 1970s . With political student debates and a diverse range of guest speakers encouraged and invited , the school ’ s liberal , progressive and stimulating environment provided the basis for Professor Bate ’ s enthusiasm for academia . Additionally , the innovative , modern approaches the Drama department used to put on plays in which Professor Bate acted , such as a pared-down version of Macbeth , coupled with the emphasis on ‘ doing Shakespeare ’ rather than merely studying him in English classes , helped to stimulate his passion . So , it seemed , did the opportunity to act alongside girls from Walthamstow Hall , as Professor Bate mentioned in one of his comic asides . He talked movingly – and , indeed , did good impressions – of a number of teachers who influenced him including the legendary Head of English John Adams – father of our current Head of English , Mrs Jane Henshaw .
Professor Bate did not fail to impress English nerds like me with his literary insights , with references to figures such as John Clare , Virginia Woolf and Wordsworth . One of the most powerful messages he explored was how literature can help us deal with the biggest problems of life and be a source of solace in troubling times . The audience left the talk feeling enriched : not only did we have a new perspective on Sevenoaks School , but also a deeper appreciation for the power of literature in daily life .
Anna Tarasheva , Lower Sixth
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