Hamlet: Shakespeare for All

This Shakespeare for All educational resource is aimed at students
15+, although primarily targeted at A-Level English literature
students. The lesson sequence begins by prompting students
to consider how many different films/TV programmes have been
inspired by Shakespeare and what makes his plays so popular.
Learners will be shown the trailer of Hamlet and asked to consider
how the director has shaped the script to reflect a modern setting
and perspective, as well as to represent a South Asian community.
Students will then examine a character profile of Hamlet as they
think about the trailer and analyse which of his character traits the
filmmakers have decided to emphasise in the new film and why.

Students will be given information about the actor playing the role of
in the new film, Riz Ahmed, and will be asked to consider how Riz’s
own identity makes him such a good choice to play the complex
character, before reflecting on the complexities of their
own identity and sense of belonging.

Following this, learners will compare an extract from Shakespeare’s
original play to an extract of the screenplay from the new Hamlet film,
before storyboarding this scene and considering the different shots
needed to effectively interpret the narrative onscreen. The plenary will
allow learners to share their creative storyboarding decisions with the
wider group and will also reveal how the directors chose to shoot the
scene by showing learners the corresponding extract from the film.

The Character Journal competition encourages learners to take on the
role of a character from a Shakespeare play of their choice. Entrants
will imagine how their chosen character might live in modern times
and consider how they could modify the character’s personality and
circumstances to make them relevant to the modern day. They will then
create a journal entry, up to a maximum of 250 words, from their chosen
character’s perspective as they face a significant challenge in their life.