This year Newcastle’s Royal Shakespeare Company Playmaking Festival 2024 saw 150 young artists and their directors perform an abridged version of Hamlet. Young actors from St Oswald’s Primary School, St Catherine’s Primary School, St Michael’s Primary School, Corbridge Middle School, Star of the Sea Primary School, Kenton High School, and Sacred Heart High School worked extremely hard to bring this performance to life.
This annual performance opportunity is part of a long-term partnership between Sacred Heart, The Royal Shakespeare Company, and Northern Stage.
SACRED HEART HIGH SCHOOL CAST
Hamlet - Natalia Swales, Horatio - Erin Devine, Ensemble - Isobelle Taylor, Gertrude - Chloe Pramana, Ensemble - Holly Coles, Ambassador - Oonagh Harris, Claudius - Annie Jean Floyd, Ensemble - Maria Rodgers, Osric - Mercy Nkwocha, Laertes - Nicole James, Ensemble - Blessing Eweka, Lead Ensemble - Beatrice Ayodele, Ensemble - Winner Salyande, Fortinbras - Eva Kunnel, Ensemble - Fatima Yasar, Ensemble - Lydia Thompson, Ensemble - Nneoma Ifediba, Ensemble - Kayla Chiaka, Ensemble - Isabella Krzysiak, Ensemble - Orobosa Omoigui, Ensemble - Fenay Silva le
The RSC Associate Schools Programme involves schools across England where teachers use RSC rehearsal room approaches in the classroom to teach the work of Shakespeare. Young people and their teachers approach these texts as RSC actors do, something to be explored practically and understood collectively. Sacred Heart is extremely proud to be Lead Associate School for the Newcastle network, working with theatre partner Northern Stage to produce an annual Playmaking Festival where young people perform to an audience of friends, family, and the local community.
Photo credits to Von Fox