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Shakespeare - our primary school really is fantastic!

14 replies

roisin · 06/09/2007 08:05

DS1 (10) came home from school yesterday bubbling with excitement, because they'd spent all morning (3 hrs) learning about Shakespeare and Hamlet ... I haven't seen him so enthused about anything in a long time, so top marks to his teacher.

She'd used a very simplified version of the plot, which ds1 had read before; and they are also going to be seeing "Shakespeare for Kidz" at a local theatre. (Beetroot will be shuddering at this point.)

But he then came home and asked for a copy of the full original text, and spent a long time reading that last night!

If that can be the response, it restores my faith in the value of the 'dumbed-down' versions.

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Alambil · 06/09/2007 09:14

I'm all for the "dumbed down" ones - if it brings one of the greatest playrights to life for people that find him "unattractive" then I'm all for it.

Well done teacher - that's no mean feat to get kids so enthused...what a brill teacher

Have you told them how he loved it ?

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Beetroot · 06/09/2007 09:20

KIDZ KIDZ!!!!!!

There are other theatre compaines whihc will give him the same buzz without the dumbing down.

Fabulous that ds is loving it though.
Simplified fab -

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roisin · 06/09/2007 21:00

I knew you'd appreciate that Beety!
I haven't taken him to see a single play yet though I know he would love it.

We're in London in October, but just miss the end of the Globe season.

Phew! Just found out today that they are set for literacy/numeracy this year, and he doesn't have his class teacher for literacy ... I'm delighted I found that out before I went in and praised her for her fantastic Shakespeare lesson! That might have been just a little embarrassing.

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hewlettsdaughter · 06/09/2007 21:02

roisin, have you seen my thread here?

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roisin · 06/09/2007 21:06

No I hadn't. Will go and look now.

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RosaLuxembourg · 07/09/2007 00:28

DD1 has read and enjoyed some of the 'dumbed down' versions of Shakespeare. They are too dumbed down though and don't really give anything to get her teeth into - she still had loads of questions afterwards because bits of the plot weren't fully explored. Would love to know where you can get more complex simplified versions IYSWIM.

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Beetroot · 08/09/2007 10:52

Roisen - War Horse at the NT would be good to see also Noughts and crosses at the RSC

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grouchyoscar · 08/09/2007 11:03

The school DS goes to is in special measures (basically if failed it's Ofstead report)

I was doing a placement there and watched the final year do 'A midsummer night's dream. It was stunning. The kids really enjoyed it.

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Bink · 08/09/2007 11:25

I knew this would be you roisin ...

Rosa, are the ones your dd has read these story versions?

Maybe I should have a look at old Lamb's Tales From ..., too. Possibly more difficult to read than the plays, though!

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roisin · 08/09/2007 17:00

Do you know anything about the Noughts & Crosses production at the RSC Beety? I'd love to see it, but (based on my reading of the book) would expect it to be a bit rich for a 10 yr-old.

Stratford is a very long trek for us anyway.

What about War Horse? We are only going to be in London for 4 days, and have already paid a king's ransome for tickets to Phantom; but I am tempted to take ds1 to see War Horse as well.

(It's not as though we have the opportunity for the other 51 weeks of the year, given our location.)

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Beetroot · 09/09/2007 15:01

I know verylittle about itbut think it will be good.
am taking my 8,10,12 and 13 year old.
War Horse - should be faba and will be cheaper as is NT

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roisin · 09/09/2007 17:33

Have you read the book Beetroot? It is a superb book - my top contemporary recommendation for teenagers. But it is very hard-hitting, and I don't think I'm giving anything away if I say they don't all live happily ever after.

I think ds1 (10) would struggle with it, and ds2 (8) would certainly be traumatised.

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Beetroot · 10/09/2007 13:34
  • I have read it - DS loved the whole lots of them


My kids will be fine!

R&J doesn ot have a hppy ending but they have seen that!
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roisin · 10/09/2007 18:06

I'm a Hardy gal myself - I find it extremely irritating if the conflict suddenly resolves itself in unbelievable fashion in the last 15 minutes, so that it ends happily.
I much prefer unending misery and a high bodycount

.. but ds2 doesn't.

Hope you all enjoy it: please review on here when you have.

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