Suitable for KS1 (Years 1-2)
Duration 20–30 minutes
Group size 30 - 100 students
Location at your school
Delivered by Professional actors
Introduce KS1 to Shakespeare with Pyramus and Thisbe
A joyful, funny and age-perfect introduction to Shakespeare for Years 1 and 2. Our professional actors bring this delightful comedy to life in just 20-30 minutes, with costumes, laughter and a surprise connection to one of the world's greatest love stories.
Make an EnquiryWhat Makes Our Pyramus and Thisbe Workshop Special
Most schools think Shakespeare starts at KS2. Ours proves it can start much earlier.
Perfect for Young Learners
At just 20-30 minutes, this workshop is precisely timed for KS1 attention spans. Full of energy, humour and participation without ever overwhelming young audiences. It's Shakespeare made genuinely accessible for five and six year olds.
A Story They Already Know
At the end of the workshop, our actors ask students if Pyramus and Thisbe reminds them of any other story. Year after year, a child in the audience realises it's just like Romeo and Juliet - a magical moment of literary discovery that stays with them long after the workshop ends.
It Gets Better Every Year
Schools that rebook experience something unique. In Year 1, students perform the story themselves with volunteers playing Pyramus, Thisbe, the Lion and the Wall. Return in Year 2 and the actors perform it in Shakespeare's original words, giving children who saw it before a completely new and richer experience.
What Happens in the Workshop?
1 ➟ Meet the Characters
Our actors introduce the world of Pyramus and Thisbe, the two young lovers, the Wall that separates them, and the very excitable Lion. Students immediately understand who everyone is and what's at stake.
2 ➟ Volunteers Take the Stage
Student volunteers are chosen to play Pyramus, Thisbe, the Lion and the Wall. With costumes, props and plenty of encouragement from our professional actors.
3 ➟ The Story Unfolds
Guided by our actors, volunteers perform the complete story — funny, dramatic and completely child-led. The audience stays completely engaged throughout because their classmates are on stage.
4 ➟ The Star Performer Awards
To celebrate the children’s achievements, our actors host a high-energy presentation. We award standout volunteers with official certificates, boosting peer recognition, public speaking confidence, and creative risk-taking.
KS1 Curriculum Links for Pyramus and Thisbe
Our Pyramus and Thisbe workshop is carefully designed to address specific objectives across the KS1 National Curriculum for English.
Listening and Understanding
Students listen to and engage with a challenging narrative performed by professional actors, developing the sustained listening skills and enjoyment of storytelling that underpin all KS1 English objectives.
Speaking and Participation
Student volunteers perform, improvise and respond to questions in front of their peers — building spoken language confidence, vocabulary and the ability to express ideas clearly in a supported and joyful environment.
Story Structure and Sequencing
Students follow a clear narrative with a beginning, middle and end, developing understanding of story structure, cause and effect, and how characters' choices drive events forward.
Character and Emotion
Students explore what Pyramus and Thisbe want, how they feel, and why the story ends sadly, developing the early empathy and inference skills that KS1 English assessment requires.
Literary Connections
The workshop ends with students discovering that Pyramus and Thisbe shares its story with Romeo and Juliet, planting an early seed of literary awareness and the understanding that stories connect across time and culture.
Confidence and Creativity
Performing in front of classmates, wearing costumes and taking on roles builds the creative confidence and willingness to take risks that supports learning across the entire KS1 curriculum.
What Teachers Say...
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"We loved the Sky Blue Theatre Company... The children had an amazing day, as did the staff. John really brought Shakespeare to life for them - they loved joining in, dressing up and playing the characters. So, so brilliant. We'll be booking again!"
- Nichola Costello, Headteacher, Frittenden Primary School
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Excellent Shakespeare Workshops. The company was engaging and everyone involved enjoyed the activities and the performance. Students are still talking about the event 2 weeks later. Thank you Sky Blue Theatre Company!"
- Mrs Barrett, English Teacher, Sir Roger Manwood's School
What Your School Gains From The Experience
🎭 Themes
✓ Love and friendship
✓ Misunderstanding and consequence
✓ Bravery and sacrifice
✓ Comedy and drama
✓ Stories connecting across time
✓ The joy of performance
🧠 Skills
✓ Listening and attention
✓ Speaking and performing
✓ Following a narrative
✓ Basic inference and empathy
✓ Creative risk-taking
✓ Confidence and self-expression
✓ Literary awareness
✓ Collaboration and teamwork
👥 Who benefits?
✓ Year 6 cohorts preparing for SATs
✓ Schools celebrating Shakespeare Week
✓ English curriculum enrichment days
✓ Whole-year group workshops
✓ Reluctant readers & writers
✓ Schools looking to avoid coach travel costs
✓ Artsmark award-seeking schools
🌟 Why Book
✓ 100% active pupil participation
✓ Zero coach or travel logistics
✓ Critical thinking and analysis
✓ Fits seamlessly into your timetable
✓ Highly cost-effective per pupil
✓ Mass capacity (up to 100 per session)
✓ Rated Outstanding by UK teachers
Explore Our Other Primary Shakespeare Workshops*
* The following workshops are designed for KS2 (Years 3–6). Our Pyramus and Thisbe workshop above is our dedicated KS1 offering.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A magical introduction to Shakespeare through comedy, imagination and unforgettable characters. Perfect for engaging younger learners.
Macbeth
Explore ambition, power and consequence through one of Shakespeare's most exciting tragedies. A favourite for introducing dramatic storytelling.
Romeo and Juliet
Discover Shakespeare's most famous love story through performance, participation and emotional exploration that every pupil remembers.
The Tempest
Adventure, magic and forgiveness come together in an interactive workshop exploring one of Shakespeare's most imaginative plays.
Twelfth Night
Mistaken identities, laughter and memorable characters make this one of Shakespeare's funniest and most accessible comedies.
Julius Caesar
Explore friendship, loyalty and leadership through one of Shakespeare's greatest political dramas, brought vividly to life.
FAQs
How long is the workshop?
The Pyramus and Thisbe workshop runs for 20–30 minutes, making it perfectly timed for KS1 attention spans. It can be delivered as a standalone morning or afternoon session, or alongside other Shakespeare Rewired workshops elsewhere in the school on the same day.
How many students can take part?
Our workshops work brilliantly with whole classes or larger groups of up to 100 pupils per session. Every child actively participates through performance, discussion and practical activities, even in larger groups
Is it suitable for all abilities?
Absolutely. The workshop is designed to be completely accessible for KS1 pupils of all abilities. No prior knowledge, reading ability or drama experience is needed, our actors do all the heavy lifting.
What do you need from us on the day?
Very little. We simply need a suitable hall or large classroom, access to a plug socket if required, and a few members of staff to support behaviour in line with your usual school expectations. We bring the costumes, props, energy and expertise.
How do I book?
Simply complete our enquiry form and we'll normally reply within one working day with availability, pricing and any information you need.
What can pupils expect?
Expect a lively, practical workshop where pupils become part of the action. Using costumes, storytelling, performance and interactive activities, they explore Shakespeare's characters, themes and language by doing rather than simply watching. No previous acting experience is needed, and every child gets involved.
How far do you travel
We work with schools across the whole of England. Travel costs are factored into our quotation, and we regularly visit schools from Cornwall to Newcastle. Distance is never a barrier to an enquiry.
What happens when schools rebook in subsequent years?
In Year 1, student volunteers perform the story themselves with costumes and props guided by our actors. When we return the following year, the actors perform the story in Shakespeare's original words, giving children who experienced it before a completely new and richer version. Many schools rebook year after year for exactly this reason.
Can you tailor workshops to the topics we're studying?
Yes. We regularly adapt our workshops to focus on the themes, characters and scenes your pupils are currently studying. If there are particular curriculum objectives or areas you'd like to reinforce, let us know when you enquire and we'll discuss how we can help.
Does it link to the KS2 curriculum?
Yes. Our workshops are carefully designed to support the KS2 English curriculum, developing reading, speaking, listening, drama and writing skills while bringing Shakespeare's stories vividly to life.
Do Year's 1 and 2 students need any prior knowledge of Shakespeare?
None at all. This is designed as a first introduction to Shakespeare for very young learners. Everything is explained by our actors in age-appropriate language.
Do your actors have DBS checks?
Yes. Every Shakespeare Rewired workshop is delivered by experienced professional actors who hold enhanced DBS certificates and regularly work in schools across the UK.
Payment
We invoice after the the booking confirmation, and payment is due within two weeks of the workshop having taken place. We want the booking process to be as straightforward as possible for schools.
Booking lead time
We recommend booking months in advance to secure your preferred date, though we do have availability at shorter notice. Get in touch, and we'll let you know what's available.
Ready to Bring Macbeth to Life?
Whether you're planning an English unit, World Book Day, Shakespeare Week or an end-of-topic celebration, we'd love to help.
✔ We usually reply within one working day.
Request Availability and Pricing
Complete the short form below and we'll usually respond within one working day with availability, pricing and the workshop that's right for your pupils.