Shakespeare Resources for KS3
Explore Shakespeare with your classmates at school or with family and friends at home with our two new resources.
Discover the dramatic story of Macbeth and then act out scenes from Shakespeare’s famous play.
Start by reading the Story of Macbeth and think about the challenges of trying to act out the story out on a stage in front of a live audience; in Shakespeare’s day, if they didn’t like your performance, you might be heckled!
You can then use our ‘Macbeth – scenes to perform’ resource to bring to life some of the most famous scenes of the play; start by assigning parts and reading your lines. Because it was written hundreds of years ago, Shakespeare can be hard to read and understand as our words have changed a lot.
Our resource has helpful explanations of what some of the trickier language means and will help you understand what the characters are trying to say to each other.
We hope you enjoy exploring the dramatic tale of Macbeth and that you’re inspired to find out more about Shakespeare.
Shakespeare, a Welsh Bard?
The rich and colourful culture, landscapes and history of Wales play an important part in the life and work of William Shakespeare.
His maternal grandmother, Alys Griffin, was Welsh and Thomas Jenkin was one of his school masters.
His history plays, written during the reign of Elizabeth I, were significant propaganda in emphasising the benefits of the established Tudor dynasty and the horror of civil war and unrest. They celebrate the founders of the Tudor dynasty, whose origins lay with the Tudors of Penmynedd (Anglesey). Owen Tudor, (grandfather of Henry VII) married the widow of Henry V (Catherine of Valois) also had strong family connections with the Welsh Princes, especially Owain Glyndwr.
His son Edmund, married, Margaret Beaufort (who had a chapel built next to St Winifred’s Well). Her son Henry VII, who was born in Pembroke Castle and raised by his uncle the Earl of Pembroke. Henry launched his attack from the Pembrokeshire coast and by defeating Richard III at Battle of Bosworth, ended the thirty years of civil unrest known as The Wars of The Roses.
Magical Welsh Mysticism
In the Elizabethan period, Wales was regarded as a land of mysticism and culture and intellectuals sought to emphasise any Welsh ancestry or connections. This is reflected in the character of Owain Glyndwr, in Henry IV. Leader of the Welsh rebels and part of the insurrection against Henry, he is portrayed as a romantic hero; well educated, charismatic and oozing with Welsh mysticism.
Interestingly, his daughter Catrin, who is married to Lord Mortimer, speaks in the play Henry IV, but no dialogue is written – there is instead a stage instruction “the lady speaks in Welsh”. There were thought to have been a number of Welsh actors amongst the company, so presumably they were able to fluently adlib in a language which was intended to be mysterious and exotic.
Other welsh characters in the plays include Sir Hugh Evans a parson and schoolteacher in The Merry Wives of Windsor, whose strong Welsh accent in English and Latin and in song, provide some amusement and who may have been based on Shakespeare’s teacher.
The battle of Agincourt is most famously depicted in the play Henry V. Although massively outnumbered by the French, Henry led his army to an unexpected victory. Welsh Longbow men were significant part of this success; many of whom had assembled at Tretower Castle when called to arms.
Fluellen (Lewellyn) is one of three captains who represent different nationalities within Britain on the battlefield of Agincourt in Henry V. Fluellen is partly a Welsh comical stereotype who is very wordy and serious with an exaggerated comic Welsh accent but he is also a personable figure, well informed, brave and competent, a scene stealer who gains the affection of an audience, to whom the king, born in Monmouth, declares “for I am Welsh you know”
The landscapes of Wales also feature in the plays. Much of the plot of Cymbeline is set in Milford Haven (“blessed Milford”) and the area around it, when the British king, Cymbeline’s daughter Innogen, escapes disguised as a boy.
In the play Richard II, after landing at Harlech from Ireland, King Richard II heads to Flint Castle where he takes refuge. In a pivotal scene of the play, Richard surrenders his crown to his cousin Henry Bolingbroke, who will become Henry IV.
Cadw sites are not only a setting for scenes in Shakespeare’s plays, but also provide magnificent atmospheric locations for both professional, education and community productions. Caerphilly Castle has been the setting for Theatr Genedlaethol’s production of Macbeth.
Flint Castle has seen a Richard II Flashmob and a performance by Flint Gwynedd Primary school of Macbeth. Denbigh and Rhuddlan Castles have been the setting for Shakespearean sword fighting and battles by pupils from local primary and secondary schools. All of these have been part of the Cadw Learning programme.
Educational group visits to Cadw sites are free and if you would like to use any of our sites as a backdrop for your study or performance-based activities, then please contact us: cadw.education@gov.wales
Our online resources can also support your learning and inspire further research:
Janys is a freelance artist who has worked in theatre, radio and television for over 30 years, starting out as a performer and going on to work as a writer and director. She is currently Co-Director of the Production Company TWO WOMEN, and also a Creative Agent with the Lead Creative Schools Scheme in Wales. She has previously been Associate for New Writing at the Octagon Theatre Bolton, Theatre Assessor for Arts Council England, Dramaturg for National Theatre Wales, and Associate Artist at the New Vic.
Janys has an unlimited enthusiasm for Shakespeare and particularly loves working with young people, so is delighted when the two passions converge — as in the preparation of these Cadw-commissioned Shakespeare resources for KS3.
Janys has previously led many workshops in Shakespeare for both young people and adults, including the innovative project The Trial in which primary-age children put Macbeth’s leading character on trial: ‘Macbeth - Manslaughter or Murder?’
You can read more about Janys’ work below, and can contact her via her website: https://www.janyschambers.co.uk/
