Shakespeare Schools Festival, Macbeth

“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes”

Paignton Community and Sports College’s Theatre Company has taken on the challenge of performing an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth on stage at the Palace Theatre, Paignton. The College is the only school lucky enough to be representing Torbay at the Shakespeare Schools Festival on Friday October 9th.

The Year 11 Drama students have been rehearsing intensively throughout September for their unusual take on the tragedy. With vivid colours and modern rock music the students are turning the dark play on its head, in a bid to show audiences the energy and thrills that reside beneath the surface of the playwright’s work.

The students have participated in a professional workshop alongside other Devon schools involved in the festival. The performance will take place on Thursday 9th October at 7pm. Theatre Company members said:

“It’s a fantastic experience to work in a professional theatre”
“It’s brilliant because although it’s part of our Drama exam, we get really good marks because we’re enjoying it so much”
“The Festival helps me to get really enthusiastic about Shakespeare”
“I didn’t think that by doing Drama for GCSE I’d get to perform on the real stage”
“It’s really cool to work with other people who love Drama too”
“We study Macbeth for English and being in the Festival makes writing about the play easier”

The festival is a national annual event, and after the success of last year’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Drama Department is keen to produce an adaptation even more vivacious than the first.

Paignton Community & Sports College’s adaptation of Macbeth has been produced and directed by Advanced Skills Teacher Jess Hunter. College Principal, Jane English said “I am delighted that Paignton pupils are involved in this festival which is taking place in our local theatre.”

This is an exciting project that the Creative & Expressive Arts Faculty are proud to be involved in. It has been generously funded by Torbay Learning Authority and Business Enterprise. For more information go to the Theatre Company website at www.paigntoncommunitycollege.com/shakespeare.php

Tickets are available at the Palace Avenue Theatre box office on 01803 665800.

For more information visit http://www.paigntoncommunitycollege.com/