In March, pupils from The Loughborough Schools Foundation performed an excellent interpretation of Richard III at The Curve Theatre, Leicester, as part of the Spring 22/23 Shakespeare Schools Festival. 

The Shakespeare Schools Festival runs across the country at various locations, all on the same night, and gives pupils the opportunity to perform Shakespeare in professional theatres. The Foundation’s Drama Department, which has taken part in the festival for the last nine years, took their own technical team to run the lighting and sound, which was key for creating the mood of the performance. 

Richard III was chosen due to our local Leicester connection, and pupils from years 9 and 10 from across the Foundation did a fantastic job of bringing this gruesome story to life. 

Sally Bruton, Director for the performance and Head of Drama at Loughborough Grammar School, worked with the pupils to devise elements of physical theatre using their bodies to create the scenery and to fill the space. The cast created tableaux of the Bayeux tapestry and the Tower of London and very much enjoyed taking on the challenge of continually contributing to the action and environment on stage, even if they didn’t have many lines. 

The cast and production team were praised for their excellent command of language, their modern costume choice and brilliant ensemble work. 

“This was a deliciously dark and daring production of Richard III from a professional and mature cast.” Holly Meechan, Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation.