Shakespeare Week is a big hit with local schools

HUNDREDS of primary school children in the Stratford-upon-Avon area have enthusiastically embraced the world’s greatest playwright as part of Shakespeare Week.

Nationally 1.5million 5-11 year-old children have celebrated 400 years of Shakespeare’s legacy in more than 9,800 schools around the UK.

Shakespeare Week is an award-winning annual celebration of Shakespeare for primary school children and is organised by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Nationally, 10,825 primary schools registered to take part in Shakespeare Week, the biggest year yet since launching in 2013.

On Monday 120 children from four local primary schools enjoyed the live digital tour of Shakespeare's Birthplace, hosted by actress and presenter Floella Benjamin. It’s estimated over 90,000 children across the country tuned in to the live broadcast on Monday afternoon.

On Tuesday the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust hosted 140 children from Warwickshire primary schools as part of the first ever joint open day with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Holy Trinity Church in Stratford.

On Friday, children at Claverdon Primary School will be designing short presentations on Shakespeare against a green screen (much like a television weather report). Children will write scripts based on what they've learnt during Shakespeare Week and get to read it on an autocue.

Shakespeare Week continues at the Shakespeare houses including the family activity marquee at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage throughout the weekend.