CHILDREN from a Barnsley primary school this week took part in a nationwide flashmob in celebration of Shakespeare Week.
Library @ the Lightbox became a backdrop for a special performance from Laithes Primary School. Pupils joined students from across the United Kingdom in the flashmob, performing an exciting production of The Tempest.
It took place on Monday to mark Shakespeare Week, an annual celebration of Shakespeare in primary schools, which is marking ten-year anniversary.
Barnsley Libraries worked with Jo Stokes from As Creatives, who helped the Laithes Primary pupils prepare the performance.
Following the performance, pupils enjoyed various activities at the library and hey were joined by the local poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan, poet laureate Eloise Unerman, and artist and printmaker Louise Wright in a series of workshops, creating their own poetry inspired by Shakespeare and designing bookmarks inspired by The Tempest.
Coun Margaret Sheard, Cabinet Support Member for Public Health and Communities, said: “We are extremely excited to be taking part in this year’s national Shakespeare Week celebrations.
“Barnsley Libraries once again have shown the commitment in working with partners to make art and culture more accessible to our residents and bring exciting performances for everyone to enjoy.”
Sally Gray, Shakespeare Week Project Manager at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said: "It has been great to collaborate with the team at Barnsley Libraries to host the vibrant celebrations at Library @ the Lightbox.
"This year is significant as we mark ten years of Shakespeare Week. Over the past decade, we have reached hundreds of thousands of children and teachers, helping to ensure that children's first experiences with Shakespeare are positive ones. We look forward to continuing to impact the lives of new generations through partnerships with cultural organisations and the enduring power of Shakespeare.”
Shakespeare Week, which ends on Sunday, is organised, and delivered by a leading educational charity, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Throughout the week, several events will be taking place in libraries and cultural organisations across the country, and online via the Shakespeare Week website.
In the next few weeks, Barnsley Libraries will be receiving a ‘Shakespeare First Folio, All the Plays: A Children’s Folio’ – a special adaptation for children, creating a legacy of this event and allowing libraries to run activities in the future.
