Judith Thomas was invited to The Apex in Bury St. Edmunds to watch some of the Shakespeare Festival for Schools performances. This is her report back…
‘The Shakespeare Schools Foundation is a charity and throughout Great Britain 1,008 schools have taken part. I watched a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by King Edward V1 Upper School and The Taming of the Shrew by Samuel Ward Academy. However, the stars of the night for me were Year 6 from Walsham le Willows Primary School. I had no idea they were performing and I’m sure many others in the village were unaware of this totally inspiring production of Macbeth by these 10 and 11 year olds.
The children were word perfect throughout and with a magnificent stage presence. I have to point out remarkable performances by Theo Cass and Jess Rigby as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth who had a mountain of words to remember, and the three witches, Rachel Hatt, Grace Crawley and Sophie Griggs who also acted as narrators and kept the whole flawless play flowing. Congratulations to Mr Cahill for his work with the cast.
Having worked with children all my life I was awed by this performance. Well done to all of you.’