Shakespeare High

Synopsis: Documentary telling the story of a group of teenagers in Southern California who find a place to belong within their high-school drama programme and are determined to succeed in the 90th Annual DTASC (Drama Teachers Association of Southern California) Shakespeare Competition. The film features their stories of how the arts enriches their lives amidst personal troubles, including poverty, violence, gangs, drugs, absentee parents, as well as the troubles and hardships of adolescence. The association chose three Shakespeare plays A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello and Macbeth to be performed by drama students from around 50 schools. The competing students could either condense a play into a scene that lasted no longer than eight minutes or perform a single five-minute scene. No props, sets and costumes were allowed, except for four chairs. The students had considerable artistic license to modify a play, as long as they didn’t change its meaning. Among the famous alumni of the almost 100 year-old programme are Kevin Spacey, Val Kilmer, Mare Winningham and Richard Dreyfuss, all featured in the film.
Language: English
Country: United States
Medium: Film
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Year of release: 2012
Notes: Available Region 1 only (3/2013).
Subjects: Drama; Education
Keywords: drama therapy; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); School productions

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British Universities Film & Video Council