Solihull School hosted its second Shakespeare Festival on Saturday 14 March, welcoming leading academics, performers and students from over 20 schools nationwide for a day celebrating the enduring works of William Shakespeare.

The festival brought together distinguished speakers from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, alongside the Shakespeare Institute. Highlights included an address from Professor Michael Dobson, Director of the Shakespeare Institute, exploring the modern relevance of Shakespearean tragedy, including performances of Hamlet in contemporary Ukraine.

The programme also featured talks by leading scholars including Dr Sophie Duncan of Magdalen College, Oxford, Professor Simon Palfrey of Brasenose College, Oxford, Dr Sophie Read of Christ’s College, Cambridge, Professor Tiffany Stern of the Shakespeare Institute and Professor Emma Smith of Hertford College, Oxford. Theatre Director and Old Silhillian, Richard Digby Day, hosted a drama workshop focussed on Shakespeare speeches for Solihull Performing Arts students.

Solihull School Headmaster Charles Fillingham said: “It is our 465th birthday this year which means that Solihull School was around before William Shakespeare - he may even have known about the school when he was a boy in Stratford-upon-Avon. It is a privilege to share our Shakespeare Festival with pupils and teachers from other schools.”

Mr Fillingham added: “We are now looking forward our National Festival of Languages in June 2027. In collaboration with other schools, there will be over 10,000 pupils involved. We are supporting language learning at secondary school level, post-16 and post-18.”

Dr Hart, Head of English, said: “The Shakespeare Festival offers a wonderful opportunity for A-Level students to enrich their critical appreciation of the bard and his stagecraft through attending a number of fascinating talks by some of the world's most eminent Shakespearean scholars.”

The festival concluded with an evening performance of Much Ado About Nothing, introduced by theatre director Richard Digby Day and performed by the Oxford’s Jesus College Shakespeare Project in the school chapel.

The school also welcomed the support of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, who served as the festival’s booksellers.

Article published by Solihull Updates