With Valentine’s Day just on the horizon, there are many ways that you and your young actors can mark this season of love: performing romantic works such as the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet or the charming exchange between Beatrice and Benedick from Much Ado about Nothing; thinking about Shakespeare’s sonnets; or exploring the historical love story of Queen Elizabeth I, one of the Bard’s greatest supporters. (You can listen to one of Shakespeare’s most beautiful sonnets above.)
But remember, learning about Shakespeare’s world provides the foundation for an understanding of – and love for – the theatrical experience more broadly. So this Valentine’s Day, invite your students to celebrate that!
Just as it is worth using this time to reflect on the camaraderie between the troupe itself, Valentine’s Day is also an opportunity to think about the specific moments and elements that keep the children (and their teachers!) so committed to the process of putting on a show. Is it the thrill of being on stage and the satisfaction of behind-the-scenes work? The excitement of rehearsals or the pride in getting “off-book”? What about favourite roles, costumes, or specific performances? And of course, you can also encourage your students to talk about what they would love to do in the future.
These kinds of conversations inspire everyone to keep working at and learning more about their craft. Why do we do it? For the love of theatre!