Having studied the play since Year 10, a recent visit to the school by members of the London-based Quantum Theatre company gave Year 11 students an opportunity to see the play come to life – an experience which brought with it a greater understanding of the text they have been studying.

Helen Graham, Head of English, said: “Having spent time learning and analysing a lot of the play’s quotations in lessons, it was really lovely for our students to be able to put those quotations in to context and for them to be seen within a stage environment.

The staging of the performance was excellent. It was great for the students to see how soliloquies work and how scenes, such as the appearance of Banquo’s ghost, work in the context of a live performance. The added context from seeing the play being acted out, rather than just being read from the book, will further help students to prepare for their up-coming assessments.”  

Shakespeare's dark tale of vaulting ambition and the toll it takes has been brought to the stage by Michael Whitmore, Quantum Theatre’s Artistic Director, in a production that has been touring schools since mid-January.

Gideon Escott, Company Administrator and Musical Director, said: “With regard to our Shakespeare performances, the company founder and director is a stickler for getting the actors to use the iambic pentameter correctly and understand in their heads exactly what they're meant to be thinking as they say each line. Without this approach, any theatre is tedious and incomprehensible but especially so with Shakespeare. 

Around the time of your show in Withernsea, our touring production of Macbeth was also performed in Leeds, Barnsley, Rotherham, Bridlington, Preston and Lincolnshire. By the time it draws to a close at the end of March, it will have been performed around 80 times – nearly all of these in schools”

Quantum Theatre tour nationally with new adaptations of classic texts and Shakespeare plays, with their outreach work taking them into secondary schools with faithful adaptations of classic texts that reflect the books that are being studied in lessons.

With over 30 years touring experience behind them, Quantum Theatre continue to perform at a range of venues across the UK - ensuring that all communities have access to the company's work by helping to bring theatre to those who may not ordinarily have access to live performance.

Reflecting on the benefit of touring theatre companies visiting schools, Helen Graham added: “Having not run a theatre trip since before the pandemic, being able to bring a production into school has been a great benefit to our Year 11s – giving them a taste of live theatre on our doorstep which was not only a fantastic and fun experience, but also a useful revision tool

Feedback from both staff and students has been really positive, and I’m really pleased that we were able to offer this opportunity to our hardworking Year 11s as they continue to prepare for this summer’s exams.”