Ledbury Poetry Festival Puts on Macbeth for Local School Pupils

A new generation of primary school children discovered Shakespeare, thanks to a thrilling and action-packed production of Macbeth by the Young Shakespeare Company on Friday 16th November 2007.

The day was organised by Frances Bradley, Education Co-ordinator for the Ledbury Poetry Festival. 222 pupils from 8 primary schools - Ledbury, Eastnor, Much Marcle, Bromsberrow, Ashperton, Colwall, Pendock and Cradley - gathered at Hellens in Much Marcle.

This was no ordinary theatre production! From the very start the excellent cast of actors got the pupils involved, making the noises of the wind, rain and animals on the heath in Scotland as the three witches came to stir up trouble. This kind of active story-telling means that the children live through the story, discovering it as they go. They become involved in the world of the play, putting themsleves in the shoes of the characters, imagining how they would feel.

One teacher said: "After today, I don't think any of these children will ever forget the story of Macbeth."

Photography by Stephen Bulley