Nottingham Playhouse Schools Shakespeare Festival Select this icon to close the instance modal

Nottingham Playhouse Schools Shakespeare Festival is a unique large-scale performance and CPD opportunity for Nottingham Schools to bring a class of Key-Stage 2 or 3 children to perform on the main stage at Nottingham Playhouse in front of a live audience of 770 people.

A class of up to 35 students from each school will work with their teacher and a Nottingham Playhouse director to prepare a scene from a famous Shakespearean play. This year each school will work on an abridged section of a Shakespeare play (title TBC). A movement director will also work with your students to create a chorus of witches to perform in your scene. These sections will all come together to make a full show, along with live piano, theatre lights, set and props.

Each participating school will receive:

• A 2-hour twilight CPD session for up to 5 staff at the Playhouse, led by our expert practitioners, on helping young people understand and enjoy Shakespeare. We will also outline how you can support your students for performing on the Main Stage.
• 4 x 2 hour rehearsals in school led by a Nottingham Playhouse Director. One of the rehearsals to include a visit from the Movement Director.
• Ongoing support from the Playhouse team in rehearsing and preparing the scene for performance.
• A full school day at the Playhouse for the young people to practice on the stage and experience in a technical rehearsal.
• A second school day to participate in a dress rehearsal then perform to the live audience.

Rehearsal sessions for the 2026 Schools Shakespeare Festival will take place in school during May and June on days and times that work best for the school. The Tech Day will take place on Monday 15 June, and the performance on Tuesday 16 June.

The fee for taking part in Schools Shakespeare Festival is £850 + VAT.

To register your interest, please email participation@nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk.