ISSN 2040‐2228 Vol. 4 No. 1 April 2013 Drama Research: international journal of drama in education Article 2 Making Shakespeare their ‘buddy’. Brian Lighthill National Drama Publications www.dramaresearch.co.uk
[email protected] www.nationaldrama.org.uk Drama Research Vol. 4 No. 1 April 2013 Making Shakespare their ‘buddy’. (Should Shakespeare studies have a place in the curriculum – or is it just a load of Bardolatry?) ____________________________________________________________________ Brian Lighthill Abstract This article is based on a paper presented by Dr. Brian Lighthill at the RSC Worlds Together symposium, Tate Modern, London. October 7th, 2012 and is a brief summation of four years of observations and action research in one Warwickshire secondary school (2006‐10). The research project explored whether Shakespeare studies should have an ongoing place in the curriculum? In this article I map out the arguments for and against Shakespeare study then describe the modus operandi of the research process. A debate follows on how to make Shakespeare relevant for young learners – if the students are to own Shakespeare’s production can the issues in the fictional stories be made relevant to their real life world? I then summarize the research methodology and case study analysis and, at some length, discuss the discoveries made from many in‐depth interviews and questionnaires with seven randomly selected students, their parents and teachers over four years. Finally I explore the way forward for Shakespeare studies. This paper interrogates two questions: ‘Have Shakespeare’s plays any relevance to the lives of young people today – or is it just a load of Bardolatry?’ And, to miss‐quote Monty Pythons The Life of Brian, What have Shakespeare studies done for us? Article 2 Making Shakespeare their ‘buddy’ 2 Drama Research Vol.