Express & Star

Pupils brush up on the bard for Stafford Festival Shakespeare

Pupils from John Wheeldon Primary School and Walton Hall Academy have had a brush with the Bard having participated in Community Outreach Engagement workshops in support of this year’s Stafford Festival Shakespeare The Merchant of Venice.

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The artwork produced by pupils from John Wheeldon Primary School and Walton Hall Academy

JP Alternative Education and Staffordshire Women’s Refuge will also have workshops in the next few weeks.

For the 13th consecutive year, producers of Stafford Festival Shakespeare and ICAP: Independent Community Arts Partnership are working together to deliver the Community Engagement Programme designed to assist participants in exploring the characters and richness of the bard's play.

The artwork produced by pupils from John Wheeldon Primary School and Walton Hall Academy

Funded by Stafford Gatehouse Theatre and Stafford District Arts Council, the programme offers the opportunity to experience drama workshops led by Kit Henson and art workshops with Helen Wilson and Mark Uttley.

As in previous years the art workshops in May and June will lead to an innovative collaborative piece of public art which will be showcased at Stafford Castle for the duration of the Shakespeare Festival.

The artwork produced by pupils from John Wheeldon Primary School and Walton Hall Academy

Those who are involved also have the opportunity to attend a live performance of the play and see their artwork on display.

The Merchant Of Venice runs from June 27 to July 13 at Stafford Castle.

The artwork produced by pupils from John Wheeldon Primary School and Walton Hall Academy

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.