STUDENTS from Bradford College have been working with local schools to put on a performance of Shakespeare classic Julius Caesar at the Ahambra Theatre.

For a play that is about backstabbing and betrayal, a tremendous amount of teamwork and collaboration went into the production, which will be performed tomorrow.

Students from the Northern School of Creative Industries are working with pupils from Appleton Academy, Samuel Lister Academy, Feversham College and St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College as part of a Royal Shakespeare Company initiative to bring the Bard’s works to a wider audience.

Students, under the guidance of director Mel Hillyard, have been delivering workshops with the younger pupils to help each school learn a small section of the play. Today the pupils will take turns to perform their section at the theatre. Bradford Graphic design students have helped create the scenery.

The RSC project that brought the schools together is called The Learning and Performance Network.

Julia O'Keeffe, LPN co-ordinator for the Alhambra Theatre, said: “The aim of the project is to support teachers to teach Shakespeare to their pupils using ‘active techniques’. This is the way an actor and director work in the rehearsal room, forming part of an ensemble and exploring together.

"This way of working creates a very rich and meaningful learning experience that has numerous benefits not least putting the students at the centre of the action of Shakespeare's plays so they can truly understand them.

"This then means that their learning is deeper and this shows very clearly in written work.

“So far the project has worked in 20 schools across Bradford, both primary and secondary. More than 50 teachers have attended inset days with RSC practitioners and specialists. Over 2,000 children have connected with Shakespeare's work through live performance, Shakespeare Clubs, active technique lessons, and performed with the professional RSC company at the Alhambra Theatre. And what’s more, they have had enormous fun doing it.”