Suitable for KS2 (Years 3–6)
Duration 80–90 minutes
Group size up to 100 per session
Location at your school
Delivered by Professional actors
Bring The Tempest to Life for Your Pupils
Interactive Tempest workshops for Years 3 - 6 that spark imagination, build confidence and bring Shakespeare's most magical and adventurous play to life. Delivered by professional actors - every child gets involved.
Make an EnquiryWhat Makes Our Tempest Workshop Effective
Most Shakespeare workshops perform scenes at students. Ours puts students in charge.
The Whole Story, Made Clear
Whether your class is encountering The Tempest for the first time or exploring it mid-topic, we bring the complete story to life. Prospero's island, the shipwreck, the magic, Caliban and Ariel, so every student understands exactly what's happening before they ever meet the text.
Spontaneously Performed by Your Students
Students don't just watch, they become Prospero, Miranda, Ariel and Caliban. Guided by our professional actors, they make the choices, speak the words and discover how Shakespeare uses magic and power to explore the biggest human questions.
Why, Not Just What
We look past the plot points to interrogate the characters' motives. Why does Prospero use magic to control others? Is Caliban a monster or a victim? What does forgiveness really cost? We push past plot summary to develop the analytical and empathetic thinking that transforms classroom discussion and written outcomes.
What Happens in a Shakespeare Rewired Macbeth Workshop
1 ➟ Volunteers Take the Stage
Students are invited to take on roles, costumes and props. Our actors carefully choose volunteers who will shine — building confidence from the very first moment.
2 ➟ We Tell the Whole Story
Guided by our professional actors, student volunteers perform the complete story of The Tempest. From the shipwreck to the final act of forgiveness, improvising dialogue, making choices and bringing their own interpretation to every scene.
3 ➟ The Tempest Triumph 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.
4 ➟ Everyone Leaves Inspired
Students finish with a deep understanding of the plot, characters and themes of The Tempest, and a genuine enthusiasm for Shakespeare's most imaginative play that carries directly into their classroom work.
KS2 Curriculum Links for The Tempest
Our Tempest workshop is carefully designed to address specific objectives across the KS2 National Curriculum for English.
Reading and Comprehension
Students listen to and discuss one of Shakespeare's most imaginative and complex plays, building understanding of plot and character, drawing inferences about motivations and feelings, making predictions and identifying themes, all while experiencing the story as living performance.
Inference and Analysis
Students constantly ask why: Why does Prospero forgive his enemies? Why is Caliban treated as a slave? Why does Ariel want freedom? This develops the inferential thinking that underpins KS2 reading assessment.
Power and Perspective
The Tempest raises profound questions about power, colonisation and justice that resonate with modern KS2 pupils. Developing critical thinking and the ability to see events from multiple perspectives simultaneously.
Spoken Language
The workshop develops questioning, justification of opinions, performance, improvisation and consideration of audience, addressing some of the strongest spoken language objectives in the KS2 curriculum.
Writing Preparation
Students leave with deep understanding of character motivation, moral complexity and imaginative vocabulary. Providing exactly the stimulus and language they need for high-quality creative and analytical written responses.
SMSC and British Values
Students explore power and justice, freedom and forgiveness, prejudice and reconciliation. With strong links to Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect and the importance of empathy towards those treated unjustly.
What Teachers Say About Our Tempest Workshop
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A fantastic workshop on 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙨𝙩. I would highly recommend this process to anyone considering putting on a production of a Shakespeare play. Not only did we have a huge amount of fun, we learnt a lot and it was a brilliant way to start our process. John is extremely knowledgeable about Shakespeare, and skilled at creating a comfortable environment in which to experiment. Can't thank him and Lee enough."
- Karen Ince, playwright, Stage Shows for Schools
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Alice and John delivered a phenomenal workshop to our Year 6's at Whitehorse Manor Juniors. There was a lot of humour on stage, and everyone was laughing. The children loved the set-up, including sound effects, the opportunities to participate and the interactions with the audience. All children had their eyes glued to the performance! Thank you very much for this memorable experience that we will never forget!"
- Reena Vadhia, Year 6 Leader, The Pegasus Academy
What Your School Gains From The Experience
🎭 Themes
✓ Power and control
✓ Freedom and slavery
✓ Magic and illusion
✓ Forgiveness and revenge
✓ Justice and injustice
✓ Colonisation and perspective
✓ Nature versus civilisation
✓ Identity and belonging
🧠 Skills
✓ Listening and speaking
✓ Inference and prediction
✓ Critical thinking and analysis
✓ Empathy and emotional literacy
✓ Performance and collaboration
✓ Questioning and decision making
✓ Interpretation and justification
👥 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
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A magical introduction to Shakespeare through comedy, imagination and unforgettable characters. Perfect for engaging younger learners.
The Tragedy of Pyramus and Thisbe (KS1)
A bite-sized, hilarious introduction to theatre through slapstick comedy, silly characters, and interactive storytelling. The perfect way to include infants in a whole-school Shakespeare event.
Romeo and Juliet
Discover Shakespeare's most famous love story through performance, participation and emotional exploration that every pupil remembers.
Macbeth
Explore ambition, power and consequence through one of Shakespeare's most exciting tragedies. A favourite for introducing dramatic storytelling.
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 Tempest workshop?
Our Tempest workshoplast 80–90 minutes, making them ideal for a morning or afternoon session. We can also tailor workshop lengths to fit your timetable, and many schools choose to book multiple sessions across the day for different classes or year groups.
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. Our workshops are designed to be inclusive and accessible for every learner. Activities are adapted to suit different confidence levels and abilities, ensuring every child can take part and succeed.
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.
Do you do anything for KS1?
Yes. We can deliver shorter, age-appropriate Shakespeare sessions for younger pupils. Please contact us to discuss your school's requirements.
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.
Will students need any prior knowledge of The Tempest?
No, none at all. We tell the complete story from scratch, including the shipwreck, Prospero's island, Ariel and Caliban, so students with no prior knowledge leave with a thorough understanding of the plot, characters and themes.
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.
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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.