Fairfax perform Shakespeare’s Hamlet: Talented young performers at Fairfax Academy are preparing to bring Shakespeare’s Hamlet to life on a professional stage – with an imaginative twist inspired by Norse mythology.
Students at the Sutton Coldfield school have been busy rehearsing their own interpretation of the famous tragedy, which they will perform at Birmingham’s Old Rep Theatre on November 2 as part of this year’s Shakespeare Schools Festival.
The ambitious production will see the young actors transport audiences to a world inspired by Viking history and Norse mythology, drawing on the Scandinavian heritage of Denmark, where Shakespeare’s iconic play is set.
The performance is part of the annual Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival, which gives young people across the country the opportunity to explore Shakespeare’s work and experience the excitement of performing in a professional theatre.
Drama teacher Beth Cattell said: “Fairfax has been taking part in the Shakespeare Schools Festival for more than ten years, alternating between comedies and tragedies. This year, we decided to take on Hamlet.
“We’re putting a Norse mythology spin on it, thinking about the origins of Denmark, where the play is set.
“It means the students not only get to explore Shakespeare’s work, which is so culturally important in Britain, but also discover more about the history and mythology of another country.”
Rehearsals have been underway since auditions were held in early September, with students throwing themselves into the challenge of mastering one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated plays.
From powerful monologues and dramatic ensemble scenes to demanding physical theatre sequences, the production has called for an impressive range of acting and performance skills.
Miss Cattell said: “There are so many elements to the performance, and our actors are really dedicated to perfecting each one of them.
“The students have been working so hard. We’ve been doing partnered work, solo work, monologues, big ensemble numbers and even physical theatre lifts, so it’s been a lot to learn!
“They’ve put so much effort in and I can’t wait for the show.”
Fairfax Academy, which is part of Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust, has a strong tradition of encouraging creativity and participation in the performing arts.
Its involvement in the Shakespeare Schools Festival, which was established in 2000, gives students the chance to develop their talents while gaining valuable experience of performing in front of a live audience.
The Festival provides specially abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays, allowing schools to stage performances lasting around 30 minutes while retaining the richness of the playwright’s original language.
Miss Cattell explained: “The Festival always provides condensed versions of the plays, which are about 30 minutes long. They keep the original Shakespearean language but make it accessible so the students can understand and perform it.
“Learning Shakespeare is a brilliant way for students to connect with the language of the past while gaining skills and confidence in performing.
“They get to work together as a big ensemble and bring to life stories that are rooted deep in our culture.
“I can’t wait to see all their hard work come to fruition on stage. It’s going to be an incredible performance, and I’m already so proud of what they’ve achieved.”