I’ve always been entertained by the reaction I get from colleagues at the utterance of ‘Shakespeare’; some recoil from secondary school scars, whereas others enthusiastically sparkle.

A final test is to see how many of those keen few still have the same vigor when I mention Macbeth. The political intrigue, violence and downright gore are often too much for some to think about for a Year 5 or 6 class.

However, if you stray away from the common focus of the Bard’s mischievous fairies and star-crossed lovers, you will find a fascinatingly complex world which is more than within reach for your pupils.

What they’ll learn

• Who the characters in Macbeth are and what they are motivated by
• How gesture, expression and body language can express characteristation
• The conventions of playscripts
• How the English language has changed over time

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