Shakespeare - our primary school really is fantastic!

[roisin]

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.

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 ?

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 -

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.

roisin, have you seen my thread here?

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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.)

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

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.

• 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!

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.