The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) School Program has always been one of the most anticipated highlights of the Dehong and DCI Worldwise Events. Since 2016, Dehong and DCI have partnered with RSC to provide students with the opportunity to collaborate directly with RSC Associate learning practitioners, allowing them to gain immersive experience in the fields of drama, English, and theatre arts.
From October 14th to October 18th, RSC’s Associate Learning Practitioner Sam Redford, was invited to Dehong Shanghai to lead the students from Grade 5 and the middle school to participate in a unique workshop. The RSC’s pedagogy reflects what happens within the rehearsal rooms in Stratford-upon-Avon, and through a series of engaging and interactive segments, Sam inspired students to explore Shakespeare’s texts, stories, and the worlds he created with enthusiasm, fun, and enjoyment.
Sam Redford is an actor, writer, theatre director, and an Associate Practitioner with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). His last appearance on the RSC stage was in 2016, playing Theseus in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” directed by Erica Whyman. He has also served as a director mentor for the RSC’s National Theatre Festival. In addition, Sam has had a career spanning over 20 years in film and television, performing in critically acclaimed series such as “Game of Thrones” and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” from New York to London.
Grade 5 students spend Wednesday through Friday with Mr. Redford exploring a range of techniques including, storytelling, expression, and bringing literature and imagination to life, which helps them build confidence and improve their communication skills. Through these workshops, the students not only learned the characters and plot of the play, but also gained the understanding and sentiment of drama and life.
The culminating showcase on Friday was undoubtedly the highlight of the workshops! We specially invited the students’ parents to join us in appreciating the practical achievements of the students and to partake in this visual feast together. The students presented their newly acquired skills and outstanding creativity through their excellent performances, submitting a satisfactory report on their hard work over the past few days.
Students in grades six and seven of the middle school focused their learning on the characterisation techniques used by the RSC in the rehearsal room. Sam brought them classic excerpts from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and guided them in exploring the vocal expression skills needed when playing the roles of Oberon, the Fairy King, and Titania, the Fairy Queen. Meanwhile, students in grades eight and nine delved into the core themes of Shakespeare’s timeless work “Hamlet”, such as revenge, death, and tragedy. These workshops, which combined performance with discussion, not only allowed students to experience the charm of performing arts firsthand but also enabled them to understand and spontaneously ponder these eternal themes as they immersed themselves in the lives of different characters.
The week-long workshop not only guided our students to transcend the boundaries of language learning but also delved into the deep motivations and rich emotions of Shakespeare’s iconic characters. The response from the students was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. In the rehearsal room, they bravely pushed their limits, honing their self-confidence and public speaking skills, and experiencing the charm of dramatic art. Under Sam’s meticulous guidance, a series of important abilities and fine qualities such as teamwork, creativity, and respect were deeply instilled in the students’ hearts, promoting communication and collaboration among them and building a strong sense of collective identity.
In the future, Dehong Shanghai will remain committed to leveraging the rich global resources within the Dehong and DCI network to provide more opportunities for holistic education. We will deeply explore and cultivate students’ creativity, leadership, and sense of community belonging through a series of carefully designed integrated learning experiences. We will create a variety of learning experiences for students through a series of well-designed comprehensive activities, promoting the all-around development and academic excellence of students in every aspect, and paving a solid path of growth for every student.
