Shakespeare reduced for pupils to pass exams

Graeme Paton:

Shakespeare productions are being cut into bite-sized chunks to make them easier for children to understand.

Theatres are staging productions of individual scenes, rather than the entire play, to meet the requirements of secondary school examinations.

Plays such as Richard III, The Tempest and Much Ado About Nothing are being performed for just a few minutes each.

The move has been criticised by traditionalists, who claim students are being denied the chance to properly appreciate the playwright. The comments come amid claims that the league table culture is narrowing the curriculum as schools are forced to "teach to the test" to inflate their position on national rankings.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at May 10, 2008 7:11 AM
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