Shakespeare Schools Festival – Antony & Cleopatra

This term, our talented drama students took to the professional stage at the Studio, Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, with a bold and vibrant modern production of Antony & Cleopatra — part of the nationwide Shakespeare Schools Festival, of which our academy has been involved for 4 consecutive years!

The performance (this year) reimagined Shakespeare’s classic tale through a 21st-century lens, packed with Twitter battles, selfies, hashtags, and modern-day rivalry. The students’ creativity and commitment shone through every moment, earning outstanding feedback from festival organisers and audience members alike.

The cast approached the challenge with real skill, completely transforming these iconic characters. Cleopatra’s crew channelled slick, glamorous Girl Band energy, combining attitude and unity to create a powerful onstage presence. Caesar’s gang were intimidating and razor-sharp, with students brilliantly capturing the cold, calculating nature of power and privilege. Antony’s crew brought effortless cool and charm, expertly balancing loyalty, swagger, and vulnerability.

Beyond the performance itself, the experience proved invaluable for everyone involved. The students demonstrated exceptional professionalism throughout, dedicating weeks of hard work to rehearsals and technical preparation. One of our students took full responsibility for operating the lighting rig on show night — an impressive achievement and opportunity for a Year 7 student.

For some students, this was their first experience performing Shakespeare; for others, it marked the end of an incredible journey, including one student who has taken part in the festival every year since Year 7. Watching them grow in skill, confidence and teamwork over time has been nothing short of inspiring.

Mr Walker-Patel said:
“This project isn’t just about performing Shakespeare — it’s about preparing young people for the future. The festival gives our students a truly enriching experience that builds their confidence, resilience and creativity. On the night, the cast and crew pulled it out of the bag, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

The feedback from audiences on the night was overwhelmingly positive, with many commenting on the energy, humour and freshness the students brought to the stage — even in a play famously packed with tragic endings.

Plans are already underway for next year’s festival, and we can’t wait to see what the next group of students will bring to the stage.