KS3-4 Shakespeare Drama Unit | Romeo & Juliet | 12 Performance Lessons

Teach Romeo and Juliet through rehearsal, performance, and dramatic exploration rather than worksheets.

Part of the Plays in Performance series, this 12-lesson KS3-4 drama unit turns the classroom into a rehearsal space where students stage scenes, explore character objectives, and build performance confidence through active learning.

Part of the Plays in Performance Drama Series.
Works especially well alongside:

KS3 Shakespeare Drama Unit | A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Ensemble, Character & Performance Skills
Year 9 Drama Practitioners Unit | Stanislavski, Brecht, Artaud & Frantic Assembly
The Physical Actor’s Toolkit | KS3–GCSE Drama & Performance Training

Students work with short, performance-ready extracts while developing:

• given circumstances
• character objectives
• dramatic stakes
• turning points
• escalation of conflict

The unit builds towards a 15–20 minute class performance featuring key moments from the play.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Teacher System Guide
• Quick Start Guide
• Week-by-Week Unit Map
• Performance Script Extract Pack
• 12 structured drama lessons
• Optional activity banks
• Teacher context sheets

KEY SCENES EXPLORED

• Prologue
• Street Fight
• Balcony Scene
• Mercutio’s Death
• Tomb Scene

PERFORMANCE PATHWAYS

Pathway 1 — Character & Objectives
Pathway 2 — Conflict & Turning Points
Pathway 3 — Rehearsal to Performance

SKILLS DEVELOPED

• ensemble performance
• emotional reaction
• physical storytelling
• dramatic tension
• rehearsal discipline
• performance confidence

Ideal for KS3-4 Drama, Shakespeare performance projects, KS3 English with drama approaches, and international school theatre programmes.