SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES: Boxing clever for drama at Holyrood Academy

STUDENTS at Holyrood Academy in Chard were inspired in their studies by a visit from the London-based Box Clever Theatre Company.

Box Clever specialises in producing artistic workshops that are an imaginative and radical way of bringing contemporary theatre to young people.

In preparation for an English project on Shakespeare next term, Year Eight students were keen to get involved in the interactive performance of Romeo and Juliet.

Box Clever’s aim was to inspire in the students an appreciation of Shakespeare’s ultimate teenage love story as well as celebrate the genius of the man himself.

It seems they certainly achieved that with words of “exciting”, “funny” and “energetic” being heard from Jasmine, Chloe and Tayla when asked their opinion on the visit.

Again focussing on Romeo and Juliet, Year Ten students saw a condensed version of the play.

Milly, Abbie, Jess and Jamie were impressed at the performance and said: “It made the story of Romeo and Juliet really clear in our minds.

“We appreciated how the narrator explained the story as the performance went on.”

Jamie added: “It was a really well put together, entertaining and enlightening afternoon.” Box Clever’s mission to inspire, challenge and motivate young audiences certainly seemed to have been achieved at Holyrood!”

Holyrood’s head of English, Puck Webber, said: “I loved the production and the workshop - they were fun, engaging and inspired the students.

“It took the fear out of Shakespeare that some students feel. They have been raving about the experience and how we should do it again.”

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