In this, the dedicated week for celebrating all things William Shakespeare, we wanted to take a moment to remember that Drama and particularly the works of Shakespeare, have always been integral to the curriculum offering at St Hugh's. 

If we travel back to July 29th, 1914, to Chislehurst in Kent, there is a large gathering of parents and friends of St Hugh's, who are together for the much anticipated Speech Day for the 1913-1914 academic year. During this, the eighth Speech Day for St Hugh's, all could reflect upon how the school had grown to the then impressive number of 42 boys and those gathered, were keen to hear from the joint Headmasters Reverend Johnson and his brother Mr Johnson, and to see the prizes given out by the Honorary Dudley Gordon, the son of the Earl of Aberdeen and his wife. The ceremony began with a performance of 'The Two Gentleman of Verona'  which was performed on the lawn with a bank at the end forming a suitable stage, and the surrounding beauty of the grounds, making a perfect backdrop. A reporter from The Chronicle, would later give his account of the play:

Everybody was charmed with the sylvan beauty of the scene; the costumes were picturesque; and some clever acting was witnessed. It was indeed wonderful that boys so young should be able to take, and take so successfully, the great parts of Shakespeare. They entered with enthusiasm into the spirit of the play, and gave an excellent account of themselves throughout. It is not necessary, and it would be invidious, to make distinctions where all did so well, and both the performers and the principals of the school are to be congratulated most warmly on the marked success achieved... The song, 'Who is Silvia?' was sweetly sung by J.Twallin.

This success recorded in print, of students so young taking on the often daunting task of performing the lines of Shakespeare, crafting it into their own and interpeting the words with great maturity, has been repeated countless times during St Hugh's history. Over recent years, St Hugh's has performed with the Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation at the Cornerstone Arts Centre and audiences have continued to watch in awe at the splendid performances by our children. In November, it was the turn of Hamlet, which received a fantastic review from those in the Coram team, who claimed that it was a 'rocking Hamlet, from an assured and confident cast' and who commented that they were able to communicate 'a complex story with ease'.