Pupils working so bard!

Youngsters at Larkholme Primary School in Fleetwood took to the big stage at Blackpool's Grand Theatre to help bring a popular Shakespeare play to vivid life.
Pupils at Larkholme Primary School in costume for A Midsummeer Night's Dream.Pupils at Larkholme Primary School in costume for A Midsummeer Night's Dream.
Pupils at Larkholme Primary School in costume for A Midsummeer Night's Dream.

Some 30 youngsters at the Windermere Avenue school joined members of the world famous Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in an acclaimed production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

And the experience has helped the Larkholme boys and girls, aged between seven and ten years old, develop a genuine appreciation of the bard’s work.

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In an innovative project, 18 professional RSC actors have joined forces with different amateur dramatic groups and schools across the land.

Pupils at Larkholme Primary School were impish sprites in A Midsummeer Night's Dream.Pupils at Larkholme Primary School were impish sprites in A Midsummeer Night's Dream.
Pupils at Larkholme Primary School were impish sprites in A Midsummeer Night's Dream.

The Fylde coast production, jointly mounted by RSC and the Blackpool Grand, saw Larkholme join amateur theatre group Poulton Drama, with the Fleetwood pupils excelling in the role of “impish sprites.”

Larkholme teachers Katherine Watts and Kirstie Hunter oversaw the project at the school. Mrs Watts said: “In their own words, the pupils have described it as “awesome” and “buzzing”. They have absolutely loved this experience. They had 12 rehearsals and ended up singing a lullaby and reciting verses on stage.”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s much loved comedies and portrays various romantic misadventures in an enchanted forest controlled by fairies.

The youngsters are now working on a special film connected to the RSC project, which will be shown during a special Shakespeare exhibition at the school on June 14.