Breathing Life into teaching Shakespeare at the University of Reading
Release Date 15 November 2010
Trainee teachers studying at the University of Reading received tips on how to bring Shakespeare to life thanks to a recent visit from a ‘Bard' expert.
Deb Newbold, a practitioner from The Globe Theatre, London, led a thoroughly active and engaging workshop for the secondary English PGCE/ GTP student teachers in the Myra McCulloch Theatre at the University's Institute of Education.
Trainees and University tutors got the chance to flex their acting muscles and experiment with speeches from Much Ado about Nothing and Hamlet, and experiment playing with language, expression and rhythm.
"Shakespeare's plays are not just words on a page; they are living, breathing conversations," said Deb Newbold to a captivated audience.
Trainee Tracey Allen said: "Through three packed hours and a range of activities we learned about different active dramatic approaches to teaching Shakespeare and, most importantly, engaging students across the Key Stages with his plays. "
Caroline Crolla, Course leader for the Secondary PGCE / GTP English course at the Institute of Education added: "Shakespeare is the one compulsory writer in the National Curriculum and many of our pupils initially greet studying him with bafflement, distrust or dislike. As a result of this workshop, our new English teachers cannot wait to use these energising and engaging approaches, to breathe life into the study of Shakespeare's plays."
The University of Reading is currently undertaking a major refurbishment of its London Road campus, the original home of the University in the heart of Reading.
The £30 million investment in the University's academic infrastructure will create a new London Road home for the University's Institute of Education, which trains nearly 1000 teachers every year. The Institute will move to London Road in Summer 2011.
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For all University of Reading media enquiries please contact James Barr, Press Officer tel. 0118 378 7115 or email j.w.barr@reading.ac.uk