20,000 Free Tickets For Schools For Globe's TAMING OF THE SHREW

Globe Education's production for the 2017 Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank will be THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, opening at Shakespeare's Globe on 28 February and running until 25 March. Over 20,000 free tickets are available for state secondary schools in London and Birmingham.

The productions, performed by Globe actors in The Globe Theatre, are created with 11 to 18 year olds in mind. They retain Shakespeare's text, edited to around 100-minutes, and vividly explore character and issues which are just as relevant to young people today as when Shakespeare first wrote the works. Saturday performances of the exciting, fast-paced production offer the opportunity for families to experience Shakespeare together, often for the first time.

Perceptions of gender and relationship stereotyping have changed significantly in the 400 years since Shakespeare wrote the play. Director, Jacqueline Defferary, observes "People describe Shrew as a problem play; I see it as a perfect opportunity to explore pressing issues surrounding gender and relationships - important for us all, especially young people. The play highlights how far we have come and how far we still have to go. This is where the problems lie, we can't shy away from them."

Since 2007 Globe Education and Deutsche Bank's partnership has given 150,000 free tickets to students to see a performance at the Globe. For many of them it will have been their first experience of live theatre, let alone Shakespeare.

The eleven-year partnership between Deutsche Bank and Globe Education is part of its youth engagement programme, Born to Be. Deutsche Bank is committed to inspiring young people, supporting them in their studies and creating the opportunity for them to achieve their full potential.

Nicole Lovett, Head of Corporate Citizenship UK at Deutsche Bank, said, "There is real concern about the fall in GCSE arts subjects - the number of students entering these exams is eight percent down from 2015 and 20 percent since 2010. Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank gives thousands of students the opportunity to experience theatre and to develop a relationship with Shakespeare, supporting not only their studies but personal development and future employability."

Alongside the production Globe Education runs student workshops and continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers, as well as providing award-winning free online resources for students and teachers that support the GCSE and A Level curricula.

Patrick Spottiswoode, Director Globe Education, says: "Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank has offered over £2m worth of free tickets to every state secondary school in London and Birmingham. But the real success is that the project is introducing students to Shakespeare and his plays as Shakespeare intended - through the power of play. One student was overheard leaving the theatre saying 'I knew I didn't like Shakespeare. Now I know I was wrong' - an endorsement of everything Playing Shakespeare sets out to do."

Teacher Danielle Bumford, Head of Drama at St Thomas the Apostle College in Peckham, agrees, "Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank changed students' expectations from a rather negative view of Shakespeare and that theatre 'wasn't for them' to 'I really want to go to see that play'." She added, "In the workshops students were acting three or four lines of Shakespeare with passion and understanding. Globe Education's Learning Consultant encouraged students to interpret characters and situations in the play themselves and to debate with each other - the process made them consider their own actions and positions in society."

Jacqueline Defferary will direct The Taming of the Shrew. As an actress she has worked with many of the UK's leading directors in film, television and theatres including the National, RSC, Royal Court, Young Vic, and the Almeida. Jacqueline has extensive experience of working with students, directing, designing and delivering workshops as a Globe Education Consultant. Michael Pavelka is the set and costume designer for the production. His work has included numerous productions of Shakespeare and Brecht for theatres including the Old Vic, RSC and the National, West End and international productions. The composer is Olly Fox who has written over 100 scores for theatre productions, radio plays, TV and production companies.

The Taming of the Shrew will run from 28 February - 25 March 2017. Weekday performances until 15 March are reserved, free for state schools from London and Birmingham. Schools from outside these cities, independent schools and colleges can book for performances between 16 - 25 March. Booking opens on 25 November for members of the public to buy tickets. For more information and to book, go online to www.playingshakespeare.org

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