News

The Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall (TRCH) is proud to announce this year’s highly anticipated Playmaking Festival, a vibrant celebration of Shakespeare, now in its seventh year. This summer, young people from across Nottingham will bring Shakespeare storytelling to life as they take to the Theatre Royal stage with their own unique adaptation of Macbeth.

Partnering with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) as part of its national schools partnership programme, the Associate Schools Programme, TRCH will work with eight schools—The Chilwell School, Joseph Whitaker School, Djanogly City Academy, Bluecoat Beechdale Academy, Bluecoat Trent Academy, Bluecoat Aspley Academy, Sutherland House School, and Southglade Primary—to develop this thrilling production. Under the guidance of TRCH’s Shakespeare specialist and an RSC Associate Learning Practitioner, students and staff will engage in RSC Rehearsal Room techniques, creative devising, and a 6-month exploration of the text, culminating in an unforgettable two-day festival.

On 7 and 8 July, these schools will experience the full magic of theatre with technical and dress rehearsals with the venue’s in-house professionals, followed by a performance in the Theatre Royal’s stunning Victorian auditorium, which marks its 160th anniversary this year. Over 1,100 audience members, including families, friends, and school communities—who can attend for free—will witness the next generation of performers bring Shakespeare’s dark and gripping tragedy to life.

This youth-led festival comes just weeks after TRCH’s ambitious community production of Hamlet: The Rest is Silence, which takes place on 10 and 11 June at the Royal Concert Hall. Featuring a cast and crew of local Nottingham residents, working alongside a professional director, technical director, and producer, as well as sessions with RSC Shakespeare specialists, this innovative retelling of Hamlet cements TRCH’s role as the powerhouse for Shakespeare in the city. More information is available here.

It’s not too late for schools to get involved in this year’s Playmaking Festival, by joining the venue’s RSC Associate Schools Programme. Schools who are interested can find out more by contacting TRCH’s Learning Partnerships Manager, Becky Morris, at rebecca.morris@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.

Participation in the Playmaking Festival is only one small part of the RSC’s Associate Schools Programme, which offers year-round opportunities for schools to partner with TRCH and the RSC, and engage with Shakespeare through workshops, pedagogy, performances, student leadership programmes, show tickets, trips, tours, and CPD training. The Playmaking Festival requires a £500 contribution, while the rest of the programme is fully funded and provided at no cost to schools, offering even more valuable opportunities throughout the year.

Find out more about the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall’s full learning and participation programme here Learn & Participate | Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall Nottingham