The Year 5 assembly opened with the entire cast on stage, delighting parents and pupils alike as they took us back to the time of The Globe Theatre.
The performers were dressed according to their roles—stagehands, money box men, food vendors, flag bearers, and players—all led by Touchstone the Jester. Of course, we were thrilled to meet Shakespeare himself and enjoyed the many wonderful references to his plays and sonnets sprinkled throughout the performance.
The audience listened attentively as pupils brought this historical period to life with an engaging script, lively singing, and graceful dancing. We learned that The Globe was an open-air theatre built in London on the banks of the Thames in 1599. It burned down in 1613, was rebuilt the following year, and remained in use until 1644. Shakespeare was a part-owner, and many of his plays were performed there. In a two-week period, as many as ten different plays could be staged, with an audience of around 3,000 people.
The performance also reflected how The Globe‘s structure mirrored the social hierarchy of the time. A day at the theatre was enjoyed by people from all walks of life, and if the audience did not enjoy a play, they could be quite disruptive—even throwing fruit and vegetables at the actors!
To this day, Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets are performed and studied worldwide. He passed away on April 23, 1616—his birthday—and is buried in the churchyard in Stratford-Upon-Avon. In his will, he famously left his wife his second-best mattress!
The music, dancing, and overall performance of the assembly would surely have made Shakespeare proud, knowing that his life’s work continues to be studied and appreciated. Mr. Wilson was delighted by this marvelous production, and the enthusiastic applause from both children and parents echoed his admiration. Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Zylstra were incredibly proud of how well the Year 5 cast delivered such a wonderful performance.
