Performers in love with Shakespeare

SECONDARY school pupils are to tread the boards to tackle one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays.

Crompton House School’s Shakespeare Society will present “Macbeth” at Shaw’s Playhouse 2 Theatre to give students the thrill and experience of performing at a theatre in front of an audience.

But it won’t be the first time youngsters from the Shaw secondary school have braved such a daunting task.

Previously, the school has produced versions of five of Shakespeare’s most famous plays at a variety of theatres within Greater Manchester.

In 2008, they tackled “King Lear” at the Dancehouse Theatre, Manchester, “Much Ado About Nothing” at the Lowry Theatre, Salford in 2007, “The Merchant of Venice” at Gracie Fields Theatre, Rochdale, in 2006, and even “Hamlet” at Oldham Coliseum in 2005. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was also performed at the school in 2008.

Head of drama, Antoinette Sargent, said: “We wanted to have a professional feel to the production and having performed in theatres for the Shakespeare Schools Festival, I felt that the students rise to the occasion and benefit from the experience.

“I also wanted to attract a wider audience. After six months’ intensive rehearsal, it’s the least the students deserve.

“We have set the production in a fairly neutral time period to highlight the universality of the themes.

“This has been a long but rewarding journey for us all. It’s been hard work for everyone, but the students have come up with some tremendous ideas to bring the play to life. With only a few weeks to go we are now gearing up to the final touches. We can’t wait to see how it all fits together.”

Deputy head Jim Upton said: “This is a really challenging venture for the cast. However, they, and Mrs Sargent have been working really hard for a long time, without their other studies suffering.

“I have been to all the previous productions and they were all excellent. I am really looking forward to seeing them give their interpretation of a play as demanding as ‘Macbeth’. I hope they get the support they deserve.

“The audience can be guaranteed an entertaining and thought-provoking evening.”

The play takes place from April 21 to 23 at 7.30pm.

Tickets, priced £6 and £5, are available from the school finance office on 01706-847 451 or from Petticoats, in Shaw, on 01706-847 494.