Here you can access and download new Shakespeare Activity Toolkit from The RSC, designed to support students, families and teachers in learning about Shakespeare from home.

Blackpool Grand is a partner organisation in Shakespeare Nation and a full programme of shows.

The Shakespeare Activity Toolkit

Each toolkit contains a number of short 15 minute activities on each play. You can choose whether you want to work through them all and teach yourself a completely new play, or just pick the exercises that might help you revise or refresh your knowledge.

Each activity also contains some extension suggestions that will take longer than 15 minutes but provide lots of different ideas for exploring the texts creatively at home. You can even share the things you create with the RSC using #ShareyourShakespeare

Macbeth Activity Toolkit

COMPLETE TOOLKIT

Download the complete Macbeth Activity Toolkit for all 20 activities. 

If you choose to work through in order, we recommend you watch the Macbeth Live Lesson after activity 10, before completing the remaining activities. The Live Lesson will be taking place on 28 April.

Several activities also contain Primary versions with slight adjustments that may help younger learners.

ACTIVITY LIST

Below are links to simple instructions for each of the 20 individual activities on Macbeth. You can work through these in order or select the ones that feel most useful for you. Several also contain Primary versions of the activities with slight adjustments that may help younger learners.

1 – The Witches

2 – The hero of the battle

3 – The prophecies

4 – The thane of Cawdor

5 – The letter

6 – The plan

7 – The doubts

8 – The murder of Duncan

9 – The bloody daggers

10 – The aftermath

At this point we recommend you watch the Macbeth Live Lesson, exploring Lady Macbeth’s character, before completing the remaining activities. The Live Lesson will be taking place on 28 April 2020.

11 – The marriage

12 – Banquo

13 – The king and queen

14 – The second prophecies

15 – Macduff

16 – The alliance

17 – Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking

18 – Macbeth’s journey

19 – The downfall

20 – A new king

Romeo and Juliet Activity Toolkit

COMPLETE TOOLKIT

Download the complete Romeo and Juliet Activity Toolkit for all 20 activities.

If you choose to work through in order, we recommend you watch the Romeo and Juliet Live Lesson from 2019 after activity 10, before completing the remaining activities.

ACTIVITY LIST

Below are links to simple instructions for each of the 20 individual activities on Romeo and Juliet. You can work through these in order or select the ones that feel most useful for you.

1 – The Prologue

2 – The opening fight

3 – The Story

4 – The Characters

5 – The world of the play

6 – Romeo and Love

7 – The Capulets

8 – When Romeo meets Juliet

9 – The Balcony Scene

10 – Juliet’s Language

At this point we recommend you watch the Romeo and Juliet Live Lesson from 2019, with the actors who play Juliet and Friar Lawrence, before completing the remaining activities.

11 – The Dilemma

12 – The disobedient Daughter

13 – The Friar

14 – The Nurse

15 – The Feud

16 – The death of Tybalt

17 – The wedding night

18 – The Banishment

19 – The deaths

20 – The Proclamation

Blackpool Grand and RSC – Associate Schools Programme

Blackpool Grand has worked in partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) since 2012 on a Learning and Performance Network and Associate Schools Programme. This national partnership has co-created local and national opportunities for over 30 schools, 100 teachers, and for nearly 10,000 local children and young people.

Regular high-quality teacher training takes place in Blackpool and Stratford that builds skills around Creative and Active approaches to English and brings rehearsal room practice into the classroom. Thanks to Blackpool’s Grand and The RSC five local teachers have gained a Post Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Shakespeare using creative and active approaches.

The theatre co-produces an annual Schools Shakespeare Festival with Lead Associate School, Our Lady of the Assumption RC Primary, and the Young Shakespeare Council. In addition, more than 200 young people get the chance to perform on The RSC’s own stage in Stratford-upon Avon in their national Shakespeare Schools Festival.

Shakespeare Nation Programme with Royal Shakespeare Company building new audiences and working with the local community is something Blackpool’s Grand has been committed to for many years. The Theatre was delighted to be invited to be part of a new national programme that involves working with The RSC and community partners to encourage new adult audiences for Shakespeare.

Working with over 150 people from the local community including; Hoteliers, LGBTQ+ Liberty Church, Connect Community Choir, Better Starts’ Community Voice, and Friends of The Grand participants were offered opportunities to explore Shakespeare’s stories through drama, dance, poetry and performance.

Now, with a new group of Shakespeare Champions drawn from the group and other community activists, this cohort is planning to work locally to share their love of Shakespeare and encourage others to see The RSC perform.

Blackpool Grand

Take a look at what’s on at Blackpool Grand Theatre this Autumn / Winter 20/21

Blackpool Grand set out a COVID-Community Communication Programme (CCCP) during the Coronavirus pandemic. Our aims were simple, to CONNECT, COMFORT and UPLIFT. We would Connect people by offering tutorials on communication tools like Zoom and conduct community face-to-face meetings (book readings, youth groups and more). Comfort through stories of heritage, memories and storytelling, and to Uplift visitors spirits through laughter and exercise. Please do enjoy and if you can afford to donate please do.

The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it’s possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice around COVID-19, visit the World Health Organisation. If you’re in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Main Image: Copyright The RSC