Eleven pupils from Putney school will perform a special adaptation of Hamlet
Eleven pupils from Paddock School will be performing their own specially adapted version of Hamlet at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith next month.
The performance takes place at 7pm on Wednesday 5 October as part of this year’s Shakespeare Schools Festival.
Paddock, an all-age special school in Wandsworth for children with autism, severe learning difficulties and complex needs, will be one of several schools to perform on the night in front of a paying audience.
The Shakespeare Schools Festival is a nationwide event in which secondary schools from all over the country have the opportunity to perform shortened adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays in local theatres.
The school’s drama teacher, Richard Burbage, has written a specially adapted version of the play. The cast retell their story using signs, actions, music and song, as well as incorporating extracts from the play itself.
This will be the fifth year that the school has taken part in the Festival. All of their previous productions have been highly praised by those lucky enough to see them. In past years the pupils have performed adapted versions of The Tempest, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Julius Caesar.
As a result of its performances the school is often invited take part in special fund-raising events for the Shakespeare Schools Festival. The aim is to show specially invited guests the high standard of work that audiences can expect to see from pupils with very diverse backgrounds and abilities.
In previous year the school has taken its show 'on the road', performing locally in community venues such as neighbouring schools and centres for the elderly.
The cast also make a special filmed version of their play which is then available on DVD.
Paddock School is rated as 'Outstanding' by independent school's watchdog Ofsted. The following extract is taken from the school's most recent inspection report:
"Paddock School is excellent, as is its post-16 provision. The quality of education is exceptionally good for all age groups...Its entire ethos is underpinned by the belief that it is an organisation in which all staff and pupils have both rights and responsibilities. A hugely ambitious senior leadership team has established very high levels of expectation and it demands very high-quality practice. Staff respond to this extremely well and work tirelessly to provide stimulating and challenging experiences for their pupils. As a result, pupils make excellent progress in both their personal and academic development. Their behaviour and attitudes are outstanding."
September 27, 2011