This autumn, the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) visited Dehong Shanghai, running a five-day in-school arts residency program that brought a series of interactive, immersive theatre workshops to students from both the Elementary and Secondary Schools.
The RSC has always been at the forefront of Shakespearean performance, celebrated for its exceptional stagecraft and rich tradition of arts education. This year’s event carried a special significance: it marked the 10th anniversary of the collaboration between Education in Motion (EiM) and the RSC. Since 2016, the partnership has included multiple deep collaborations, such as the Shakespeare Festivals across the EiM network, RSC artist residency tours, and exclusive RSC performance opportunities.
As part of the residency tour, the RSC visits Dehong Shanghai annually. Students have the opportunity to learn and practice alongside professional artists, cultivating confidence, creativity, empathy, and a lifelong love of language arts through theatre immersion.
The workshop was led by Oliver Lynes, Associate Learning Practitioner for the RSC's Creative Learning and Engagement Department. Mr. Lynes is an experienced actor and director with extensive teaching experience, having participated in productions such as Endless Seas, Miss Littlewood, A Midsummer Roman Feast, and Macbeth. Over the five-day interactive workshop, he brought an inspiring learning experience to Dehong’s students with his professional theatre expertise and engaging teaching style.
For me, this has been a truly meaningful week. I worked with students from both the Elementary and Secondary Schools on a journey full of creativity and discovery. For many, this was their first time truly reading Shakespeare and experiencing his world firsthand. Together, we celebrated creativity, freely expressed ourselves, and fully enjoyed the expressive power of Shakespeare’s language.
——Oliver Lynes
Grade 5 students participated in immersive workshops where they explored Shakespeare’s language, character development, and central themes through engaging scenarios, gaining a deeper understanding of his classic works.
At the end of the week, we celebrated the theme of the RSC and EiM partnership: Community. We invited our community to come along and get involved in a showcase. The students performed a scene from Act I of Macbeth: the witches whispering spells on the desolate moor, the sudden appearance of spirits sweeping across the stage like a storm, and Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s emotional struggle between ambition and temptation—all conveying strong dramatic tension.
Students expressed character traits through fluid body movements and conveyed complex emotions through intonation. Carefully choreographed stage formations and layered stage direction enhanced the visual and artistic impact of the performance. Through seamless collaboration, the students brought Shakespeare’s profound text to life, presenting an emotionally moving theatrical experience for teachers, peers, and parents alike.
Students have studied a very challenging piece of text, Macbeth, which is one of the world’s most famous literary works. I’ve seen their confidence in public speaking, body language, and teamwork grow tremendously throughout this process. It has been an amazing journey to see their progression from day one until the final performance.
——Sam Forrest
By engaging with Shakespeare’s language and themes, our students began to appreciate the richness of literature and its relevance to their life experiences. Experiences like this ignite curiosity and deepen understanding. They also help to build lifelong learners and nurture a lasting love for reading and performance.
——Levanya Naicker
Oliver showed us how to use movement and voice to express Macbeth’s bravery during a battle and Lady Macbeth’s determination when she encouraged him to go after the crown. We practiced showing emotions like courage, doubt, and temptation, using tone and body language. I enjoyed how Shakespeare’s plays can feel so real and powerful when performed on stage.
——G5C4 Max
Before the workshop, I thought that acting was mostly about memorizing lines, but now I know that it’s about creating atmosphere. In the first scene of Macbeth, we explored how to show mystery and danger without needing big sets or props. We used shadows, whispering voices, and stillness to make the audience curious and a little scared.
——G5C3 Simon
I learned how to use space and timing to make a scene more dramatic. During the final performance, it felt like we really brought the storm and magic of Macbeth to life.
——G5C4 Nora
It taught me how important teamwork and imagination are on stage. I felt like we were creating our own world just like the witches do.
——G5C2 Emily
Beyond the Elementary School, Mr. Lynes also designed specialized workshops for English Language and Literature classes in Grades 6 and 8. Through performance activities and collaborative learning, secondary students explored Shakespeare’s literary world, experiencing the layers and tension of his works. Role-playing and text analysis enhanced their English literary appreciation, critical thinking, and academic writing skills.
From Grade 6 onwards, Dehong Shanghai incorporates drama classes taught fully in English. Students read scripts, develop characters, and perform in a black-box theatre. This immersive approach naturally integrates English learning: students acquire authentic expressions and intonation through dialogue and movement, while strengthening stage confidence, teamwork, and other core competencies. The RSC workshop provided a high-level platform for students to interact directly with world-class theatre artists, gaining invaluable professional and artistic insights.
On the 10th anniversary of the EiM-RSC collaboration, Lesley Meyer, Chief Education Officer of EiM, stated:“Our pioneering spirit and commitment to holistic education, combined with the RSC’s expertise in performance arts, provide students with exceptional opportunities to develop character and life skills. This collaboration confirms our belief that performing arts are an indispensable part of world-class education.” Looking ahead, Dehong Shanghai will continue to leverage the global resources of the Dehong and DCI networks, continuously enhancing high-quality drama education. The school is committed to helping every student experience the depth and beauty of theatre arts, while providinga personalized growth path for those with theatrical dreams and potential, preparing them for a broader stage in life.
