Shakespeare's Works Bring Excitement Back to UK Classrooms with New RSC Curriculum
As the rainy afternoon gloom sets in, a different kind of excitement is brewing in a Peterborough secondary school. Here, year 10 English students are taking part in a workshop about Macbeth, part of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) new curriculum designed to bring Shakespeare's works to life in UK classrooms.
Under Paul Ainsworth's guidance, the pupils transform into performers as they explore Act 1, scene 7 of the famous tragedy. The scene is pivotal, where Macbeth is having doubts but is persuaded by his wife, Lady Macbeth, to kill King Duncan. As the students perform some of Shakespeare's most memorable lines, it's clear that the RSC approach is making a difference.
The focus on performance rather than just reading from a page has won over even those who might have otherwise found Shakespeare daunting. Charlie, 15, a self-proclaimed rap fan, confesses to being "not usually a performer" but enjoying his experience. Kieran, 14, agrees that "if you listen to it a little bit," he can grasp what's going on – even if he doesn't fully understand it.
The RSC curriculum is an online platform for teachers and pupils, utilizing the company's rehearsal-based teaching approaches to transform Shakespeare studies in schools. With over 2,000 resources available, including video extracts from RSC rehearsals and activity-packed lesson plans, this new initiative has got everyone excited.
Launched with Macbeth this year, Romeo and Juliet will follow in early 2026, with two more plays per academic year. "The lucky ones might have a brilliant teacher who can bring it to life," but many others may find themselves inexplicably mouthing words that make little sense at just 14. The RSC curriculum aims to change this by getting Shakespeare – as a living, breathing thing – into schools.
Actors David Tennant and Judi Dench are among those championing the new initiative. David Tennant believes that young people's first experience of Shakespeare should be in performance rather than just reading from a page. "Shakespeare should be experienced, engaged with and performed," he emphasizes.
Judi Dench has always been passionate about playing Shakespeare's major female roles and sees her plays as timeless, still resonating with young people today. For her, the new curriculum is about collaboration, inquiry, and discovery – bringing the spirit of the rehearsal room into classrooms nationwide to inspire and engage young minds.
The RSC's approach seems to be working its magic on students like Charlie and Kieran. As they reflect on their experience, it becomes clear that Shakespeare's works can be excitingly alive in the classroom – even for those who might initially find them daunting.
As the rainy afternoon gloom sets in, a different kind of excitement is brewing in a Peterborough secondary school. Here, year 10 English students are taking part in a workshop about Macbeth, part of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) new curriculum designed to bring Shakespeare's works to life in UK classrooms.
Under Paul Ainsworth's guidance, the pupils transform into performers as they explore Act 1, scene 7 of the famous tragedy. The scene is pivotal, where Macbeth is having doubts but is persuaded by his wife, Lady Macbeth, to kill King Duncan. As the students perform some of Shakespeare's most memorable lines, it's clear that the RSC approach is making a difference.
The focus on performance rather than just reading from a page has won over even those who might have otherwise found Shakespeare daunting. Charlie, 15, a self-proclaimed rap fan, confesses to being "not usually a performer" but enjoying his experience. Kieran, 14, agrees that "if you listen to it a little bit," he can grasp what's going on – even if he doesn't fully understand it.
The RSC curriculum is an online platform for teachers and pupils, utilizing the company's rehearsal-based teaching approaches to transform Shakespeare studies in schools. With over 2,000 resources available, including video extracts from RSC rehearsals and activity-packed lesson plans, this new initiative has got everyone excited.
Launched with Macbeth this year, Romeo and Juliet will follow in early 2026, with two more plays per academic year. "The lucky ones might have a brilliant teacher who can bring it to life," but many others may find themselves inexplicably mouthing words that make little sense at just 14. The RSC curriculum aims to change this by getting Shakespeare – as a living, breathing thing – into schools.
Actors David Tennant and Judi Dench are among those championing the new initiative. David Tennant believes that young people's first experience of Shakespeare should be in performance rather than just reading from a page. "Shakespeare should be experienced, engaged with and performed," he emphasizes.
Judi Dench has always been passionate about playing Shakespeare's major female roles and sees her plays as timeless, still resonating with young people today. For her, the new curriculum is about collaboration, inquiry, and discovery – bringing the spirit of the rehearsal room into classrooms nationwide to inspire and engage young minds.
The RSC's approach seems to be working its magic on students like Charlie and Kieran. As they reflect on their experience, it becomes clear that Shakespeare's works can be excitingly alive in the classroom – even for those who might initially find them daunting.
! It's so refreshing to see schools making Shakespeare come alive for students in a way that doesn't feel like reading from a textbook. I mean, who needs just words on a page when you can bring the drama and emotions of the performance right into the classroom? 
The fact that actors like David Tennant and Judi Dench are behind this initiative is huge – they're proving that Shakespeare's still super relevant today! 
It's all about making learning fun and engaging, especially for those who might not have been interested in it before. Fingers crossed the other plays get as much love as Macbeth does next year 
I think it's bloody brilliant that they're making Shakespeare performative again! Like, who cares about reading from a page when you can ACT IT OUT? 
I'm down for this curriculum getting more plays in the future - Romeo and Juliet is next up! 
the rsc curriculum sounds like a game changer, i cant wait for them to roll out the next plays... romeo and juliet, here u come!!! 
. By performin' and actin' out scenes, kids like Charlie and Kieran are actually gettin' it, you know? They're not just memorizin' lines, they're livin' the story 
. This new curriculum is goin' to make a real difference in how kids learn about Shakespeare and it's really excitin' to see! 
I'm loving this new RSC curriculum! It's so cool how they're making Shakespeare come alive for students 
. And it's awesome that actors like David Tennant and Judi Dench are on board with this initiative 
This new curriculum is the perfect way to introduce Shakespeare to a new generation of fans 
. Let's get ready for Romeo and Juliet! 
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And what's next? Performing the entirety of Hamlet in one go? 
. Give me something practical and useful to learn, like coding or a trade, any day 
. The fact that performance-based learning is making a difference in how they understand and engage with the plays is amazing 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to be on stage belting out some Bardic beats? 
It's awesome that David Tennant and Judi Dench are championing this initiative – they're total legends! 
It always sounded so boring, but I guess it's not all bad now. This new RSC curriculum is actually pretty cool, I think. They're making it more interactive, which is great for the kids who might struggle with just reading from a page.
It didn't really mean anything to us back then. But if this new curriculum can make it cool for kids like Charlie and Kieran, then maybe we'll see a whole new generation of Shakespeare fans! 
David Tennant's opinion seems legit tho, performance over reading can be super engaging. What about those who don't get the chance to have "a brilliant teacher" though? The stats are gonna be sketchy on how many schools actually use this new curriculum... 
I'm so down for this new RSC curriculum! Finally, we're seeing some real change in how we learn about Shakespeare in schools 
It's like, we're finally bringing Shakespeare into the 21st century 
I just love how this new RSC curriculum is bringing Shakespeare back to life for the next gen! It's all about making performance a part of the learning experience, not just reading from a page 
. It's like David Tennant said, Shakespeare should be experienced and performed, not just read. That's a game-changer, imo! 
. The RSC's approach is all about making Shakespeare accessible and engaging for young minds, and I think this is going to make a real difference in classrooms across the UK 
! By incorporating performance-based learning, students are not only immersed in the Bard's masterpieces but also cultivating their own unique interpretations 
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. And another thing, why perform the whole play when can't even get a decent wifi signal in those schools 
. The RSC curriculum is just a bunch of overhyped nonsense 
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i mean can u imagine having rsc actors as your teachers 
david tennant and judi dench are legends 
its not just about memorizing lines but about bringing the characters to life and making them relatable to modern kids