Shakespeare Ensemble: 12-Week Performance Course

Shakespeare was written to be performed, not just read, and this twelve-week course gives teens the chance to bring his words to life as a real ensemble. Over a full term, learners build the skills to understand the language, speak the verse with confidence and work together to stage a final showcase.

The first weeks focus on foundations. Learners play ensemble games, explore Shakespeare's world and the Globe theatre, and discover the heartbeat rhythm of iambic pentameter. They learn to decode unfamiliar words, paraphrase lines into their own language and have fun with Shakespearean insults and wordplay.

In the middle of the course, the ensemble is cast in scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream and Romeo and Juliet, balancing comedy and drama so everyone has meaningful lines. Learners work on character objectives, voice and breath, movement and status, and perform a monologue or soliloquy of their choice.

Leadership and teamwork grow throughout. In later weeks, learners take turns as student director for a scene, giving notes, blocking movement for the camera frame and running part of rehearsal. The course closes with a dress rehearsal and an online showcase for families, followed by a group reflection.

This is an intermediate course for teens who have some acting or reading experience and want a longer, more serious project. Learners commit to learning lines between sessions, with clear weekly goals from the teacher.

How classes work

Each 75-minute session begins with an ensemble warm-up, followed by a skill focus, scene work in small groups and whole-group rehearsal. Learners receive weekly line-learning goals and scene notes.

What we'll cover

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  Week 1: Welcome to the Globe – Ensemble games and Shakespeare's world.

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  Week 2: Speaking the Verse – Iambic pentameter and the heartbeat rhythm.

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  Week 3: Decoding the Language – Paraphrasing, thee and thou, and wordplay.

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  Week 4: Casting and First Read – Meet the scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream and Romeo and Juliet.

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  Week 5: Character Objectives – What each character wants and how it drives the scene.

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  Week 6: Voice and Breath – Projection, breath control and clarity for Shakespeare.

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  Week 7: Movement, Status and Staging – Blocking scenes for the camera frame.

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  Week 8: Monologues and Soliloquies – Perform a chosen speech and receive feedback.

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  Week 9: Off-Book Rehearsal – Run scenes without scripts and build ensemble timing.

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  Week 10: Student Directors – Take turns leading rehearsal and giving notes.

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  Week 11: Dress Rehearsal – Full run with costume pieces and props.

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  Week 12: Showcase and Reflection – Perform for families and reflect on the journey.

Some acting, drama club or school play experience is helpful. Learners should be comfortable reading aloud and ready to learn lines between sessions.