Dubbo High School teacher Lauren Ward will apply for a fully-funded year-long mentorship with Australia’s national leading Shakespeare theatre company.
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Bell Shakespeare will provide thirty teachers from across Australia the opportunity to travel to Bell Shakespeare’s Sydney headquarters for four days of specialist training in teaching Shakespeare, to collaborate and network with teachers from other regions, and to see the Company’s production of The Miser at Sydney Opera House, starring John Bell.
Teachers will receive ongoing support from Bell Shakespeare artists and staff throughout the year, as well as access to in-school and in-theatre programs to support their continued learning.
Ms Ward said Bell Shakespeare is at the cutting edge of theatre presentation.
“They make Shakespeare contemporary and relevant for everyone,” she said.
“As a teacher that is my bread and butter, trying to get students to connect to texts and understand that even though it was written 400 years ago it’s still relevant due to its universal themes.
“To have the honour of working with people who do that every day would be incredible.”
Bell Shakespeare’s Artistic Director Peter Evans said that the mentorship was an unparalleled professional development opportunity for teachers from regional and remote areas.
“This program equips the participants with tools and strategies to teach in ways that can help break down the barriers to students understanding and appreciation of the ideas, language, imagery and relevance of Shakespeare’s work,” he said.
“The teachers come away from the experience with the confidence to implement new approaches in the classroom and lesson plans that include more active and engaging methods of teaching.”
For enthusiastic teachers like Ms Ward, a Bell Shakespeare mentorship would allow her to get a deeper understanding of a subject that she is passionate about.
“If I were to be mentored by Bell Shakespeare it would expand upon what I am already doing here at the South Campus,” she said.
“I’d be able to offer real-life, authentic examples of where Shakespeare goes from the page to the stage and that is what students sometimes struggle with.
“I am already teaching Shakespeare from year seven and we have done that with the help of Bell, they have come to our school, and the students respond well to that.
“To have the chance to work with Bell, to see behind the scenes, see how they plan, watching them rehearse would bring a realism and authenticity to what is happening in the classroom and that would be gold.”
To apply go to www.bellshakespeare.com.au