Shakespeare 4 Kidz News

When icicles hang by the wall
And Dick the shepherd blows his nail
And Tom bears logs into the hall
And milk comes frozen home in pail ...

The wintry weather looks set to continue in the south of England, but the S4K office will be open today MONDAY 6th DECEMBER until at least mid-afternoon. Postal services - inbound and outbound - have been badly affected too. If you cannot get throught to our staff, please leave a message on our answerphone 01342 894543 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Many apologies for any inconvenience caused.

The 11th Annual What's On Stage Awards Nominations have been announced in London.

Shakespeare 4 Kidz are delighted to be associated with the Awards and have sponsored the Best Shakespearean Production for the third time.

This year's nominees include two productions from Shakespeare's Globe, one from the Old Vic, the National Theatre, the Almeida and the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park.

The full nominations are:

The SHAKESPEARE 4 KIDZ Best Shakespearean Production

As You Like It – at the Old Vic
Hamlet – at the National, Olivier
Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2 – at Shakespeare’s Globe
Macbeth – at Shakespeare’s Globe
Measure for Measure – at the Almeida
The Comedy of Errors – at the Open Air

Voting has commenced via the What's On Stage website and the winner will be announced at the WoS Winners’ Concert on Sunday 20 February 2011 at the West End’s Prince of Wales Theatre.

Congartulations to all those nominated.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE NOMINATIONS AT THE WHAT'S ON STAGE WEBSITE

Is S4K bigger than Harry Potter?

Well in Lincolnshire, at least, the answer is .... perhaps. Judging from the front cover of the Lincolnshire Echo What's On ... possibly, maybe!

The cover of the What's On section of the Lincolnshire Echo from the 18th November sees S4K favourite Sean Luckham as Bottom is the ass-headed "cover model" receiving a kiss from Titania, Queen of the Fairies.

Meanwhile, Harry and Hermione have been reduced to supporting roles in the bottom left hand corner.

In the Shakespeare story, Bottom the Weaver has his head transformed into an ass by the mischievous Puck, whilst Oberon, King of the Fairies, has cast a spell on his wife, Titania, which results in her falling in love with the first living creature that she sees.

So has Shakespeare's magic from A Midsummer Night's Dream "out-enchanted" JK Rowling's Harry Potter?

Or is it all a Dream?

The Main Event: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Modern adaptation full of fairies and fun

DON’T BE BAFFLED BY THE BARD: Character of Bottom, at centre, with workmen.

A FUN way to enjoy Shakespeare comes to Lincoln Theatre Royal next week, when a musical, modern version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream hits the stage.

It’s an acclaimed production from the Shakespeare 4 Kidz company, which works its magic on the original lines in this musical tour.
The child-friendly version visits Lincoln on Wednesday, for shows at 10.30am and 1.30pm.

Can you and your kids resist the fabulous story of a Duke marrying his Amazonian queen, two sets of lovers who elope into the woods where the audience finds feuding fairies and a naughty sprite called Puck, whose mismanaged magic causes no end of hilarity?

Bottom (surely the best name for a comedy character ever) is one of theatre’s funniest roles.
Audiences are guaranteed a greatlaugh when Puck’s prank puts an ass’s head onto him and fairy queen Titania wakes up and promptly falls in love with him.

Di Eccleston, from Shakespeare 4 Kidz, said: “Julian Chenery and Matt Gimblett have taken some of the mostfamous lines and woven them into modern language. It’s so cleverly done that people don’t realise what they’re listening to.

“People say there’s hardly any Shakespeare in it, but we found about 20 per cent of the script is his original lines and so children will know the
story when they come across it later in life.

“When we have an evening performance, mums and dads bring their kids. People who go as adults love it too – they’re in tears of laughter at the end.”

There are songs, dances and spellbinding effects as the fairies create a world of wonder in the woods. The Dream is one of six S4K titles,following on from the 2009-10 national and international hit tour of Macbeth.

So, if you fancy a plot filled with fairies and fun, royalty and romance, magic and misunderstandings, A Midsummer Night’s Dream has them all.
Teachers, parents, pupils and critics are all unanimous in their praise of the Shakespeare 4 Kidz package.
It is one of the most popular plays ever written, and this adaptation means even though it’s a telling of three interwoven stories – and a play within a play – those previously baffled by the Bard can at last understand what it is all about. Here’s a hint to help you get to grips with the plot: four young friends are involved in a dispute concerning an arranged marriage. At the same time, six working men rehearse their play to be performed at the Royal Wedding Feast, while the King and Queen of Fairyland’s constant arguing has upset the balance of the mortal world. Puck the mischievous sprite stirs these ingredients to make midsummer madness in the woods – or is it all a dream?

In the know
WHERE: Lincoln Theatre Royal
WHEN: Wednesday
TICKETS: £16/£10 (+ special school rate)
BOOKING: 01522 519999