Shakespeare Radio Project

As part of a year 8 introduction to Shakespeare, my class created a radio show based on the life, works and the world of the great bard. I wanted to make sure that their first experience of Shakespeare was fun and dynamic so that I didn’t put them off before we read one of his plays. I also wanted to experiment with the potential of a digital recorder in the classroom.

The project came together in the following stages:

Stage 1:
Students were allowed to choose their own groups of 2-5 students. I wanted them to be able to work with their friends to try to stimulate them to engage with a project that required a certain amount of team engagement. It is unusual for them to be able to work with their friends so I thought this could help to sell the project.

Stage 2:
Students then watched sections of Shakespeare in Love to get a sense of Shakespeare’s world, the Elizabethan theatre and his play Romeo and Juliet. While watching, I would periodically stop the film and prompt students to think of possible radio topics or sketches inspired by the film. We eventually compiled an Excel spreadsheet list of students alongside their ideas for their section of the radio show. Ideas included:

- Main Presenters - Few facts and main intro
- Elizabethan News report
- Elizabethan Advertising
- Friday Diary - What plays, songs and dances people are going to see this weekend.
- Friday Diary - Interview with Shakespeare and John Webster
- Elizabethan Advertising
- Shakespearean Fashion
- Presenters reading a bit of a Shakespearean sonnet and giving some information
- Shakespeare Controversy - Did he write his own plays? Did he have a homosexual relationship? Was he really cruel to his wife?
- Elizabethan News Bulletin!!!!!!!
- Shakespeare's Biography (Shakespeare's school life?)
- Elizabethan Advertising
- “To be or not to be a Millionaire” GAMESHOW
- Main Presenter 1 Summing up and thankyous

Stage 3:
Students then went to the library to research their section. The librarians put out a selection of books on Shakespeare’s world as well as simplified and graphic versions of his plays. They were given a large sheet of paper with a section for notes. This incorporated a success criteria – a mixture of reading assessment (students had to show in their production that their research had given them an understanding of Shakespeare’s world and work) and speaking (speaking clearly in an appropriate register, staying in role, maintaining audience attention etc).

Stage 4:
Students then wrote out a script and practised their parts so that they could speak clearly and fluently. The show was recorded in class, in small chunks on to a digital mp3 recorder. I then edited the parts together into one mp3. We had to record some extra jingles to fill a few conspicuous silences and give the final version the required professional touch.

You can have a listen to the finished result here:

8y3 Shakespeare Radio Show by Fortismere English

We are now reading The Tempest as a class and so far the pupils are really enthusiastic so I feel that the project achieved its aim of providing an exciting and engaging introduction to Shakespeare.

Bill Kenny
Teacher of English