Shakespeare Schools Festival

The Shakespeare Schools Festival (SSF) charity is the UK’s largest youth drama festival. Schools who participate perform half hour abridged versions of Shakespeare's plays in local, professional theatres all over the United Kingdom. Since its inception in 2000 it has worked with 4,842 'teacher directors' and 100,000 young people. 1000 schools (25,000 young people) will take part in the 2013 Festival in 120 theatres across the UK.

SSF aims to engage children through an active way of learning. The charity strives to bridge "the attainment gap" by boosting articulacy and confidence, as well as imparting key employability skills such as teamwork, peer leadership and critical thinking. In preparing and performing the plays participants also learn about Shakespeare's language, themes and characters.

All schools are able to take part in the festival, and the charity actively targets disadvantaged schools and teachers who feel that their pupils cannot do Shakespeare. After a pilot scheme in 2011, SSF now works with primary schools, with 7 new scripts specially abridged for younger participants. 179 primary schools took part in the 2012 Festival, alongside special schools and secondary schools. Five international groups paid to take part in the 2012 UK Festival, covering all their own travel and accommodation costs.

SSF is partnered with the Central School of Speech and Drama, who support workshops for the young casts participating.

Shakespeare Schools Festival is a charity supported by numerous trusts and foundations and individual donors. The largest corporate sponsor is Telereal Trillium. SSF's central office is currently housed at Telereal Trillium HQ at Bastion House, 140 London Wall, City of London.

The festival was featured recently on BBC Breakfast on Saturday 13 October 2012.