b'SHAKESPEARE SEASON REVIEWS From 22nd January to 4th March,to the popular TV show Strictly Handsworth Grammar School playedCome Dancing. However, instead of host to the captivating Shakespearedancing, we focused on memorising Season. This delightful event featuredShakespeares words. Judges Shakespeare Season has brought many activitiesa variety of activities, includingobserved our performances and to Handsworth Grammar Schoolstories, plays,the highly anticipated Strictly Talkassigned scores out of 10. I chose movies, and discussions in every English lesson.Shakespeare and an engagingto learn Egeuss speech from Act I really enjoyed the Henry V play, which wasacting session led by the esteemed1, Scene 1 of A Midsummer Nights presented in Big School. It was very entertaining,Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. TheDream. The speech talks about not to mention the interactive roles students couldactors from Shakespeare BirthplaceEgeus threatening his own daughter play. It included the full story of how King Henry VTrust did not just recite lines; theyto marry Demetrius or choose death. became king and his claims to the French throne,brought Shakespeares words toIt was not just about remembering which meant that he had to go to Harfleur andlife. They emphasised that his playsthe words; it was also about how to Agincourt to show he meant business. We alsowere not meant to gather dust onexpress them, following the guidance participated in an English workshop with theshelves; they were meant to beof the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.Shakespeare Birthplace Trust about how the toneheard and seen. In a cool demo, theyOverall, participating in the of what you are saying can completely changefirst delivered quotes in monotoneShakespeare Season was a fun and the meaning of a sentence.voices which sounded quite boring.educational experience. It allowed Taaj Singh, Year 7 But then, they added emotions andus to immerse ourselves in the world actions. Suddenly, those same linesof Shakespeare while still having an had depth and emotion. exciting time.I also took part in Strictly TalkNathan Patel, Year 8Shakespeare. Imagine an event where participants compete similar Shakespeare Season is the most enjoyable experience I have had in HGS so far, from learning about William Shakespeare, to joining in the Young Shakespeare Company production of Henry V. I enjoyed everything and Shakespeare is a good writer because he is intelligent and international. He changed English literature because Henry V was a good play and was very entertaining. It was a good time and I really enjoyed learning about Shakespeare.Marzuq Akinbami, Year 7It was a long trip to Stratford-upon- place in the selected Avon, taking around two to threeplays. There was a hours, but it was worth going there.professional weapon When we first got off the coach,trainer who had we explored a little, learning morecome straight from about the birthplace of ShakespeareAmerica, just to and its history, which was extremelytell us about the interesting. We had to cross byweapons used the church which was Williamin those plays. I Shakespeares final resting place to getlearnt a lot of new to our location, Halls Croft. We endedthings related up getting a bit lost on the way there,to wars and but our teacher used his amazingweapons in the medieval navigating skills to get us back onages, and the sword trainer also letThe oldest grammar school in Birmingham, track. us use some dull practice swords toKing Edward VI Handsworth Grammar The place we were headed to wastry out, and even taught us some coolSchool for Boys, has now ended their where the Shakespeare Birthplacemoves. As we finished, we had a littleShakespeare Season and it was the Trust worked. The yard was veryconversation about Shakespeare andgreatest thing you have ever seen. The roomy, with a few tables and chairssome more of his plays, and the swordschool hired a group of actors and laid out on a patio next to it, and atrainer even gave out some smallactresses that specialise in Shakespeare circular garden in the centre. Therepieces of chainmail for us to keep. plays like Henry V, Macbeth and many more. The children of Year 7 enjoyed was a tent set up, where the mainThis was an exciting trip, in which Henry V and some students had the opportunity to join in the acting. There activities took place. Each activitywe developed our knowledge about was also a Shakespeare Film Club where was related to three of Shakespearesliterature and history while also having anyone could come and watch legendary plays: Romeo and Juliet, Henry V, andtons of fun. I would really recommend Hamlet. We examined and acted outyou visit Stratford at least once, the starting parts of each of the playsbecause of its historical sites, its funShakespeare films.and tried to memorise a line fromexperiences, and exciting activities. Manraj Singh, Year 7each one, while also discussing thePrakul Rohila, Year 8summary of all the events that took 36'