Shakespeare Lives in Schools Day 2016 Introduction   Explain that this year marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. His words have inspired people around the world for generations. Did you know that Shakespeare’s plays have been translated into over 100 languages and are studied by half the world’s school children?

What do you know about Shakespeare? A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016 What do you know about Shakespeare? Can you name: any of his plays? 2. any of the characters? any famous lines from Shakespeare? What do you know about Shakespeare ? Ask pupils to tell you what they can about Shakespeare. Alas, poor Yorick. Photo by Zoya Ignatova.

His mother was a farmer’s daughter and his father made gloves. A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016 William Shakespeare was born in Stratford Upon Avon in England. We are not certain of the exact date he was born, but he was baptised on 26 April 1564. His mother was a farmer’s daughter and his father made gloves. He married Anne Hathaway when he was 18. He moved to London and joined the Lord Chamberlain’s Men theatre company who first performed his plays. Here are some facts about Shakespeare King Lear by Taiwan's Contemporary Legend Theater. Photo by Eoin Carey

A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016 The Sam Wanamaker Festival 2015 at Shakespeare's Globe. Photo by Cesare De Giglio In 1599 we know that he was part owner of the Globe Theatre in London where his plays were performed. Men or teenage boys originally played the women’s parts in his plays, as women were not allowed to be actors at that time. Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616 in his hometown of Stratford leaving his second - best bed to his wife in his will. His plays have been translated into over 100 languages and are studied by half the world’s school children.

Learn English Kids: Macbeth A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016 We are going to watch a film of one of his most famous plays. Watch carefully as there are some questions afterwards! Learn English Kids: Macbeth What do the witches tell Macbeth about his future? Watch this story and find out!

A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016 Macbeth: True or False a. Three witches tell Macbeth that he will be the new King of Scotland. True/False b. Macbeth is happy about killing King Duncan. True/False c. Macbeth thinks Banquo knows that he killed Duncan. d. The witches tell Macbeth that he is in danger. e. Lady Macbeth feels terrible about killing Duncan and Banquo. f. Macbeth is killed by the witches. Put one on each page

A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016 a. Three witches tell Macbeth that he will be the new King of Scotland. TRUE Put one on each page

b. Macbeth is happy about killing King Duncan. A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016 b. Macbeth is happy about killing King Duncan. FALSE Put one on each page

c. Macbeth thinks Banquo knows that he killed Duncan. A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016 c. Macbeth thinks Banquo knows that he killed Duncan. TRUE Put one on each page

d. The witches tell Macbeth that A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016 d. The witches tell Macbeth that he is in danger. FALSE Put one on each page

e. Lady Macbeth feels terrible about killing Duncan and Banquo. A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016 e. Lady Macbeth feels terrible about killing Duncan and Banquo. TRUE Put one on each page

FALSE f. Macbeth is killed by the witches. A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016 f. Macbeth is killed by the witches. FALSE Put one on each page

A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016 Shakespeare or Song? Shakespeare’s mastery of meter and his expressive way with words has inspired music of every style from many cultures and backgrounds. Watch ‘Come to me’ featuring Anjana Vasan a blues song inspired by As You Like It. Anjana Vasan © Andrew Lamb Along with his themes and characters, many of Shakespeare’s words and phrases have become part of our everyday language and his work continues to be a rich source of inspiration for musicians and artists around the world today.   A music streaming service recently found that more young people recognised the lyrics of Justin Bieber than Shakespeare’s words and phrases! So, can your students spot the bard from recent musicians and be crowned Shakespeare Lives in School Day Quotations Champion? Find out by holding an assembly quiz to see if they can spot Shakespeare from contemporary musicians, using the following questions taken from Akala’s Ted talk and a Guardian newspaper article. Invite all the students to all stand up. Read each question and ask them to raise their right hand if they think the quotation is written by Shakespeare or their left hand if it is by a contemporary musician. If they get the question incorrect they sit down, until the final champions are left standing Reportedly, more young people recognise Justin Bieber’s lyrics over Shakespeare’s words and phrases! Take our quiz to find out whether your know your Bard from your Bieber…

“If music be the food of love, play on”. 5

“If music be the food of love, play on”. Twelfth Night - Act 1 Scene 1 5

2. “To destroy the beauty from which one came”. 5

2. “To destroy the beauty from which one came”. Jay Z – You Must Love Me 5

3. “Should I fight for love or disarm?” 5

3. “Should I fight for love or disarm?” Justin Bieber – That Should Be Me 5

4. “I was not born under a rhyming planet ”. 5

4. “I was not born under a rhyming planet ”. Much Ado About Nothing - Act 5 Scene 2 5

5. “A diamond for all of your passion”.

5. “A diamond for all of your passion”. Justin Bieber – All In It 5

“Cowards die many times before their deaths The valiant never taste of A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016 What’s your favourite Shakespeare quotation? Nelson Mandela chose this quote from Julius Caesar as His favourite Shakespeare quote. “Cowards die many times before their deaths The valiant never taste of death but once”. Which quotation would you choose? A famous copy of Shakespeare’s plays was part of a recent exhibition at the British Museum in London. It was known as the ‘Robben Island Bible’ because of the solace and inspiration it brought to Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners during their years of imprisonment during Apartheid. It was smuggled into the jail covered by Diwali cards and each political prisoner chose their favourite quotations and signed their names beside it. Nelson Mandela chose a passage from Julius Caesar which begins, “Cowards die many times before their deaths/The valiant never taste of death but once.’ Prepare some of the pupils or teachers to share their favourite quotes Ask your students and teachers to take a blank card on their way out of the assembly and write on it their own favourite Shakespeare quotations during the day for display around the school. Puck. Photo by Anneleen Lindsay.

A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016 "Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore, So do our minutes hasten to their end...” Sonnet 60 Find out more about the ideas in Shakespeare’s plays and explore the ways they remain relevant in our lives today, wherever we are in the world! www.shakespearelives.org #shakespearelives Photo from Shakespeare Schools Festival taken by Camilla Greenwell.