b'Imagine standing up in front of a crowd, hundreds of kids, having to memorise and deliver a speech you recently learned, and knowing it could go one of two ways; amazing, or terrible. I did this last year in Shakespeare Season and won second place, so I figured I ought to be an expert by now. However, this time the stakes were higher. Four judges, in front of everyone instead of just speaking in front of the cameras. It was then I heard my name called out.I took a deep breath and tried to keep calm, but my hands were shaking. When I got on the stage, I started delivering the speech, slowly growing more confident. My hands werent shaking any more. I had asserted my dominance and had everyone hooked on my every word, listening. When I finished, everyone clapped. The judges gave me a reallyThe recent Gothic Season good rating, the highest so far, and I felt like a burden had been lifted off my shoulders. Itat King Edward VI felt amazing. Handsworth Grammar That was just one of the sensational events in Gothic Season among many others. School for Boys in Birmingham stands as a testament to the power The Big Brum Theatre Company based in Birmingham did an amazing play on Theof immersive learning, transforming Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, which kept us wanting to know more. Visitingthe study of a literary genre into a guest speakers from the Centre for the History of the Gothic at Sheffield Universityvibrant, multi-faceted experience. included Professor Maisha Wester, who shared her insights about modern interpretationsThis three-week festival, dedicated to of Frankenstein. the dark and captivating world of All these events, and many more, made up an amazing season of twists and turns, all toGothic fiction, clearly resonated help us have the best Gothic Season possible. deeply with the student body. Omid Haidari, Year 8 The events success lay in its active engagement approach. Rather than simply lecturing on Gothic tropes, the school had orchestrated a series of interactive activities that fostered genuine understanding and appreciation. The collaboration with experts from the Centre for the History of the Gothic at Sheffield University was particularly noteworthy. These scholarly sessions provided students with invaluable insights, encouraging them to dissect the genres enduring appeal.The inclusion of live dramatic performances further enhanced the festivals impact. Productions of A Christmas Carol and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde brought these classic tales to life, allowing students to witness first-hand the power of Gothic storytelling. The Gothic Film Club extended this experience, showcasing the genres cinematic adaptations and demonstrating its evolution across different media. This cinematic exploration provided a modern lens through which students could The mood was set with a thrillingStrange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde byappreciate these classic stories.trailer giving us an engagingRobert Louis Stevenson. The Strictly Talk Gothic speech preview of the exciting eventsSimilarly, the school hosted performancescompetition injected a playful yet awaiting throughout Gothic Season, as wellof two literary hits, A Christmas Carol andeducational element, challenging as being able to reminisce about the schoolsThe Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.students to embody the dramatic first and successful Shakespeare Season. These performances were breathtakingintensity of the genre. This Every Tuesday brought mini competitionsas each play consisted of fewer than fourcompetition not only fostered public during Gothic Form Time, with somethingactors, yet they were able to enact multiplespeaking skills but also encouraged everyone could enjoy. As well as this, youroles for over 90 minutes immaculately. Asstudents to internalise the emotional could win Gothic-themed prizes such as awell as this, they were humorous and intensecore of Gothic literature.bone pen or a bat which could fly! in moments; overall, great events on a FridayWilliam Tran, Year 10Guest speakers visited the school to shareafternoon. their insights on Gothic literature thanks toThis Gothic Season was even more the Centre for the History of the Gothic atimpressive than last years Shakespeare Sheffield University, who gave educatingSeason, where throughout the Season all talks on literary hits. This included Professorstudents and teachers joined in enjoyable Maisha Westers talk about rewritingShakespearean events. It would be great to traditional stories to tell new ones, focusingsee more Seasons like this for everyone to on Destroyer (an adaptation of Frankenstein)have some fun whilst learning.by Victor LaValle. Dr Zhengxin Lins talk wasHrithik Bansal, Year 10about doubling in literature, such as in The 35'