Experience Shakespeare in Action!
The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival offers dynamic, interactive workshops that bring Shakespeare’s stories, language, and characters to life for students of all ages. Led by professional teaching artists, these programs invite participants to explore theatre through movement, collaboration, and performance—building confidence, creativity, and communication skills along the way.
Workshops range from playful storytelling adventures for younger students to hands-on acting, poetry, and stage combat experiences for middle and high school participants. Programs typically run 45–90 minutes and can be tailored for classrooms, youth groups, and community organizations.
Workshop Offerings
Trippingly on the Tongue (ages 13–19)
Discover the secret code hidden inside Shakespeare’s poetry in this dynamic and interactive workshop. Students explore Shakespeare’s “old” language as playful, powerful, and performance-ready storytelling through partnered activities, a Secret Shakespeare Code packet, and plenty of theatrical fun—including silly hats and on-your-feet exploration. By the end, participants uncover how rhythm, rhyme, and poetic devices reveal Shakespeare as the ultimate storytelling “puppetmaster.”
Speak the Speech (ages 14–19)
Students build their “Actor Toolbox” by following Hamlet’s iconic advice to performers. Through collaborative exercises, cue scripts, and playful theatrical tools like hats and stage props, participants discover how professional actors bring scenes to life. The workshop culminates in a lively comic showcase where students put their new skills into action and “strut their hour upon the stage.”
Stage Fencing (ages 13–19)
En garde! In this exciting introduction to Shakespearean swordplay, students learn the fundamentals of safe stage combat from experienced instructors. Participants develop physical awareness, controlled strikes, and collaborative storytelling as they choreograph short theatrical skirmishes. The workshop concludes with a fun and dramatic showcase where students cross swords in iconic Shakespeare scenes.
SHAKES101 (ages 13–19)
This actor-centered workshop unlocks the brilliance of Shakespeare’s most iconic plays through performance. Teachers or group leaders choose a play—such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Macbeth, Hamlet, or Twelfth Night—and students explore scenes using movement, partnered exercises, and text analysis. Participants discover how iambic pentameter acts as the “heartbeat” of a character, guiding an actor’s vocal, physical, and emotional choices. The workshop concludes with a short scene showcase using authentic Shakespearean cue scripts and playful costume elements.
SHAKES101 (ages 7–13)
This introduction to Shakespeare invites younger students to explore the stories and characters through active performance. Using select scenes from beloved plays, students learn how rhythm and language help shape character and storytelling. Through physical exercises, cue scripts, and imaginative costume pieces, participants experience Shakespeare’s language as something to play with, perform, and bring to life together.
Speak the Speech (ages 9–14)
Perfect for emerging actors and curious learners, this workshop introduces Shakespeare as the actor’s personal trainer. Through physical games, partnered exercises, and authentic cue scripts, students build confidence while exploring the joy and silliness of performing. The session ends with a comic mini-performance where students put their new acting tools into practice.
Stage Fencing (ages 9–13)
Students learn the basics of theatrical swordplay in a safe and exciting environment. Guided by experienced instructors, participants practice stage combat techniques while developing awareness, control, and teamwork. The workshop culminates in a playful showcase where students perform their own choreographed Shakespearean skirmishes.
Shakespeare Shenanigans (ages 4–8)
This high-energy early-literacy workshop introduces young learners to the magical world of Shakespeare through movement, voice, and imagination. With warm-ups, tongue twisters, playful costume pieces, and musical rhythms, participants create fairies, knights, and mischievous characters inspired by Shakespeare’s stories. Students “fairy-fetch” like Puck and shout “Sleep no more!” like Macbeth while building storytelling skills, confidence, and creative expression.
Shakespeare Storytime (ages 5–10)
Join the mischievous Puck for an interactive, sensory-friendly storytelling performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Bursting with playful props, audience participation, and theatrical surprises, this lively experience invites young audiences to help tell the tale of Oberon, Titania, and one very silly donkey-headed fool. The performance runs approximately 30 minutes, with an optional 15-minute Q&A afterward.
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