Host us at your school for a two-hour workshop, with a professional actor and a teacher-facilitator from Sheffield Theatres.

What will students explore?

• Students will discover how Shakespeare's writing and themes connect with the world they live in today.

• Delve into key themes of power and identity by engaging with the dramatic language and different contexts of Shakespeare’s plays, Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet.

How will students learn?

• Learning will be active, dialogic, reflective and at times directly instructive.
• Activities will use a range of talk situations and, in so doing, develop students’ oracy skills outlined in The Cambridge Oracy Skills Framework.
• The teacher-facilitator and actor will use up-to-date Shakespeare pedagogy to empower students to develop their own critical viewpoints and understand the key tropes that Shakespeare used in his plays.

Developed with academic expertise

The Power Play workshop has been developed in close consultation with Dr Ursula Clayton, Assistant Professor in Early Modern and Shakespeare Studies at University of Warwick.

Dates Available

Mon 16 - Fri 20 November 2026

Price

£250 (limited bursary support available)

Booking Deadline

Fri 23 October

How To Book

To book the Power Play workshop please email Samuel Erskine, Education Programme Manager at Sheffield Theatres: s.erskine@sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Note

Power Play workshop could serve as an early introduction to set Shakespeare texts for GCSE English Literature. It is important to let us know if you are interested in booking this for KS4 classes.

Join us at the Crucible for a two-hour page-to-stage workshop exploring the process of theatre making with the cast and production team of Twelfth Night.

Date: Fri 23 October 2026

Times: Workshop 10am – 12pm, Matinee performance 2.15pm

Price

Theatre-based workshops are free when tickets are booked for performances.

School tickets for Twelfth Night are £15 each with one free supervisory ticket with every ten purchased.

Booking Deadline

Fri 16 October 2026

How To Book

Unlocking workshop spaces limited. To book show tickets and Unlocking please email groupbookings@sheffieldtheatres.co.ukor call 0114 249 6000.

Arrange a follow-up workshop in your setting for students that have attended a performance of Twelfth Night at the Crucible. Led by an educator-facilitator from Sheffield Theatres.

This hour-long workshop will focus on up to three key scenes from Twelfth Night and have some bespoke content depending on your students’ needs, subject focus and age.

Dates Available

Mon 9 - Fri 13 November 2026

Price

£100 (limited bursary support available)

Booking Deadline

Fri 23 October 2026

How To Book

To book the Unpicking workshop please email Amy Liptrott, Creative Engagement Director at Sheffield Theatres: a.liptrott@sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Students will:

• Explore Shakespeare through performance rather than simply reading the text.
• Build confidence through practical drama activities.
• Develop critical thinking and discussion skills.
• Make connections between Shakespeare and contemporary issues.
• Work with theatre professionals.

Power Play workshops supports the Key Stage 3 English National Curriculum

These workshops help students to:

• study Shakespeare through performance
• analyse character, plot and setting
• understand how staging shapes interpretation
• develop speaking, listening, critical thinking and oracy skills
• build confidence when approaching Shakespeare's language

Objective 1

Pupils should be taught to develop an appreciation for, and love of, reading, and read increasingly challenging material independently through reading two Shakespeare plays.

Objective 2

Pupils should be taught to read critically through:

• studying setting, plot, and characterisation, and the effects of these.

• understanding how the work of dramatists is communicated effectively through performance and how alternative staging allows for different interpretations of a play.

Power Play workshop could serve as an early introduction to set Shakespeare texts for GCSE English Literature. It is important to let us know if you are interested in booking this for KS4 classes.

Discounts are available when booking more than one workshop.

Limited bursary support is available for eligible schools.

To find out more please email Samuel Erskine, Education Programme Manager at Sheffield Theatres: s.erskine@sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Power Play workshop is aimed at KS3 but might also be suitable as an introduction to set Shakespeare texts for GCSE English Literature. It is important you let us know if you are thinking of booking this for a KS4 class.

Unlocking and Unpicking are suitable for students in KS3, KS4 and KS5 studying English Literature and Drama / Performing Arts.

Limited space is available for Unlocking - please contact our Box Office to find out more.

Unpicking can be delivered to up to 30 students in one workshop, but we can discuss this with you based on your needs and the space you have available in school.

Power Play can be delivered to a maximum of 30 students in one session. Please talk to us if you'd like us to deliver to more than one class.

The Power Play and Unpicking workshops take place at your school in a room of your choosing but please be aware that students will need space for practical performance activities. Unlocking takes place at the Crucible.

Students need no prior knowledge of Romeo & Juliet or Macbeth for the Power Play workshop. Unlocking is designed to introduce students to Twelfth Night so no prior knowledge is needed. Unpicking is only available to students who have seen Twelfth Night at The Crucible and while pupils will be reminded of the plot and themes, it is designed to deepen and extend the understanding of the play that we hope students will have gained from seeing it performed live.

Yes, if you book the Power Play workshop, we will send out a short form for you to fill in about any adaptations required and individual student’s needs. The workshop is designed for the typical range of students found in mainstream settings.

Unpicking can be guided by the questions your students have following the performance of Twelfth Night. Please get in touch with us to discuss this.

We would like you to prepare your pupils by sharing some simple workshop protocols with your students so they can feel safe, secure and get the best out of the workshop. We will send these to you if you book a workshop. It would help if pupils bring something to write with.

Teachers should be present and provide active support during the workshop. We want to inspire them as much as the students!