The life and works of Shakespeare will be celebrated by students from Highfields, Penn Fields and Wolverhampton College as part of an exciting Olympic legacy-funded arts project.
Students have spent weeks rehearsing as part of ‘The Shake of Things’ project, which will culminate in an action-packed festival for all the family at The Arena Theatre on April 23rd.
The project has been made possible thanks to ‘Spirit of 2012’ Olympic legacy funding and has seen dozens of students working with industry professionals on a number of live performances as well as film production.
Rehearsals have taken place on Tuesday evenings at Penn Fields School over a number of weeks and Ms S.Bishop, Highfields’ Head of Performance, said everyone was excited about showcasing their hard work at the festival.
The festival will take place from 12-5pm and includes free entry and buffet for all visitors. Our students will be performing a short version of Macbeth from 12.45pm, followed by dance duet Superficial Love - based on Romeo and Juliet - at 1.30pm. A film created by students also based on Romeo and Juliet will be screened at 1.45pm before members of Highfields’ own dance group, Barefoot Dance Company, will perform a selection of contemporary numbers based on Shakespeare works from 3-3.45pm.
The event will also include workshops celebrating the Bard’s life and works.
Ms S.Bishop, Highfields' Head of Performance, said: “It has been wonderful to collaborate with Penn Fields School and Wolverhampton College on such an exciting project.
"It is a true privilege to have been awarded this 'Spirit of 2012' Olympic legacy funding and to be involved in this high-profile arts project, which has given students the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals to celebrate Shakespeare’s works.
“After weeks of hard work, we are now looking forward to seeing the results of all of our students’ efforts at the festival on April 23rd. The day is packed with lots of activities and performances to provide fun for all the family. We hope to see you all there.”
Sprit of 2012 is an independent trust, established with a £47m endowment from the Big Lottery Fund, that works to recreate the spirit that radiated from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It promotes wellbeing and social cohesion and challenges limiting perceptions of disability by funding partners that provide opportunities in sports, physical activity, arts and culture, volunteering and social action.
Funding for the project was secured under the category of collaborating secondary schools, special schools and Further Education providers.
