One of the most unique Year 8 English Literature programs in Australia, Glen Waverley’s Standing Up For Shakespeare (SUFS) allows keen students to develop their skills in English by studying and performing Shakespeare, rather than through the regular Language and Literature program.
Using a learning-by-doing methodology, David Dunn (Drama) and Jane Pulford (English) devote class time to both textual analysis and performing adaptations of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and A Christmas Carol. As well as developing English skills, it introduces students to the aesthetic of great literature, through actively performing and collaborating with their peers.
A group of SUFS alumni now in Years 9 and 10 jetted off during the September school holidays for a drama tour of the UK. They performed A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Pinocchio at a number of schools and venues across England and participated in workshops at the historic Globe Theatre.
For Year 9 student Patrick, it was an experience he’ll never forget. ‘The tour was incredible… attending classes with The Royal Shakespeare Company, sightseeing in locations such as Cambridge and Canterbury, and attending a variety of performances, plus a visit to the museum of Gothic author Mary Shelley! The whole experience was truly unforgettable.’
