On Thursday, January 29th, Senior School English Teacher Allison Gabel organized an immersive Shakespeare workshop for 20 students in Grades 10 and 11. Facilitated by the Bedouin Shakespeare Company, the two-hour session allowed students to dive deep into the tragedy of Macbeth while exploring the broader historical context of Jacobean and Elizabethan life. The workshop gave students the opportunity to explore Jacobean and Elizabethan life and context, perform key scenes from Macbeth, develop their understanding of iambic pentameter, and learn directly from a professional Shakespearean actor.
Learning from a Professional
A major highlight of the day was the opportunity to learn directly from a professional Shakespearean actor. This was particularly impactful for drama students who gained new perspectives on classical performance. One student shared, "I think what went well was how it was very nicely and entertainingly presented, and you could follow through in a fun way". Beyond general presentation, the actor provided specific technical guidance, with the same student noting, "I personally enjoyed how we could act out the scenes and got great tips on where to put our vocal focus".
An Interactive Approach to the Classics
The workshop balanced academic information with active participation. Students began by sitting in a circle to discuss the background of the play and the author. This collaborative start led directly into performance exercises where students worked in pairs. One participant remarked, "I personally really liked the information bit about Shakespeare in the beginning and how we all got in pairs together to work on a small scene of Macbeth". This structure ensured a high level of engagement, as "the acting part also was good because everyone got a chance to try it out for themselves".
Academic Growth and Assessment Preparation
The session also provided practical benefits for the students' upcoming schoolwork. By deconstructing iambic pentameter with a professional, students were able to better understand the rhythm and mechanics of Shakespeare's writing. This specialized instruction was highly valued, as one student explained that meeting an actor who works primarily with Shakespearean pieces and learning about the meter "would be very useful the analysis for the upcoming English assessment".
The workshop was an overwhelming success, earning a "five-star rating" from participants. Despite only having two hours, students felt the experience was comprehensive and enjoyable, concluding that "everything went really well, and it was very entertaining". Through this unique collaboration with the Bedouin Shakespeare Company, G10 and G11 students have gained both the confidence and the tools to excel in their study of the Bard. Through practical work on stage directions, character motivation, movement, and vocal delivery, students deepened their understanding of how dramatic meaning is created not just through language, but through performance choices.
This experiential learning deepened their understanding of Macbeth as a dramatic text studied in Grade 10 English A and helped prepare them for the more advanced textual analysis and performance-informed interpretation required in the IB Diploma Programme. In the DP English A Literature, and Language and Literature courses, students go on to study at least one dramatic work, selected from a range of plays by their teacher including: Shakespeare’s Othello, Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler and A Doll’s House, Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, and Padmanabhan’s Harvest.
