Faculty of Education Competitive Grants

Project Title: Re-finding and refining Shakespeare through the RSC

Chief Investigator: Professor John O'Toole and Dr Kate Donelan

Funded by: 2008 Melbourne Graduate School of Education Competitive Grant

Project Summary: In 2008 we commence a Post-graduate Certificate in Teaching Shakespeare, collaborating with the Royal Shakespeare Company. The teaching combines contemporary RSC rehearsal techniques with drama pedagogy to approach Shakespeare and other complex texts in educational settings. This pilot project investigates through action research and contextualised case studies three questions, to prepare for a 2009 ARC Linkage International Project with Warwick University UK:

• How can young people engage with Shakespeare and complex texts?
• What do teachers and schools need to teach such texts effectively?
• Is our innovative course delivery an effective model of in-service teacher development?