In its role as a Lead Associate School for the Royal Shakespeare Company, HSDC is constantly looking for new ways to improve access to Shakespeare for students at the College and across the region. This is a reflection of the College’s commitment to an arts-rich, aspirational education that broadens horizons, raises cultural confidence and supports students’ progression into future creative careers.
This partnership and commitment recently took three members of HSDC staff to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare and headquarters of the RSC, for a weekend of training, connection and enrichment.
Pete Budd Havant’s Assistant Principal for Curriculum, Sally Barlow, Head of Faculty for Creative Industries at South Downs, and Jimmy Ryan-Shedden, Course Lead for Acting for Stage and Screen at South Downs all attended the RSC’s annual ‘Connected’ Symposium. This event brings together Associate Schools from across the country, deepening their commitment to an arts-rich education whilst highlighting the importance of collaboration between schools when discussing Shakespearean education.
Inclusivity was the heart of HSDC’s recent visit to the RSC.
A crucial highlight of this was the chance for HSDC to spend valuable time with representatives from Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre, a renowned institution of which the College is very proud to be an official partner. This is just one example of HSDC’s countless partnerships through the College’s employer engagement programme, rooted in a belief that every learner should have access to transformative educational experiences that provide them with a clear line of sight from education to the workplace.
The overarching focus of the Connected symposium was an exploration of how to deliver Shakespeare to young people using the acclaimed RSC rehearsal room pedagogy. This is an approach with a single truth at its core – Shakespeare shouldn’t just be read, it should be brought to life. Without a performance, Shakespeare’s works become just words on a page.
Another key tenet of the RSC’s pedagogy is bringing Shakespeare into a modern context. By asking ‘Why this play? Why now?’ HSDC helps learners to understand the profound and timeless relevance of Shakespeare’s plays in today’s world.
The Associate Schools were also treated to see the RSC’s new thrilling production of Measure for Measure in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, offering a practical example of the theoretical ideas the symposium had been discussing. Reflecting on this, Sally Barlow said:
“It was a real privilege to attend the RSC’s Connected symposium. From being able to network with our fellow Associate Schools to watching the RSC perform live, the whole event was a fantastic opportunity to learn about the real impact of Shakespeare on young lives and how HSDC can play a key role in widening this impact. I left not only with practical tools, but with a renewed passion for championing the arts in our college community.”
A keynote speech delivered by Co-Chair of the Cultural Learning Alliance, Sally Bacon OBE highlighted the importance of an arts-rich education for all, and reaffirmed the importance of the role of the RSC’s Associate Schools. As a Lead Associate School, HSDC leads a cluster of local institutions to bring Shakespeare to thousands of students in the region.
Other activities included workshops on Voice and Performance, and a fantastic panel on ‘Addressing the Access Gap’. HSDC is very proud that our very own Pete Budd featured on this panel, discussing the importance of the arts on a student’s holistic and academic development. Speaking about this experience, Pete said:
“I was delighted to be on the panel with real experts in the field of theatre making. Speaking alongside people like Sally Bacon and Jacqui O’Hanlon gave me a true understanding of the important role both the RSC and HSDC can play in bringing Shakespeare to a wider audience of vulnerable young people.”
HSDC is exceptionally proud of its ongoing partnership with the RSC, and looks forward to seeing this grow and develop in the future. Through aspiration, technical excellence and sector-leading teaching, HSDC continues to build a stable platform that supports students’ futures and enriches the communities it serves.