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 Twelfth Night to Life for Your Pupils
Interactive Twelfth Night workshops for Years 3 - 6 that spark imagination, build confidence and bring Shakespeare's most joyful and accessible comedy to life. Delivered by professional actors - every child gets involved.
Make an EnquiryWhat Makes Our Twelfth Night Workshop Effective
Most Shakespeare workshops perform scenes at students. Ours puts students in charge.
The Whole Story, Made Clear
Whether your class is encountering Twelfth Night for the first time or exploring it mid-topic, we bring the complete story to life. The shipwreck, the disguises, the mistaken identities and the comic chaos, 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 Viola, Orsino, Olivia and Malvolio. Guided by our professional actors, they make the choices, speak the words and discover just how brilliantly funny and surprisingly moving Shakespeare's comedy can be.
Why, Not Just What
Why does Viola hide her identity? Why does Malvolio take everything so seriously? What does the play really say about love and self-deception? 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 Twelfth Night 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 Twelfth Night. From the shipwreck on the shores of Illyria to the joyful resolution, improvising dialogue, making choices and bringing their own interpretation to every comic scene.
3 ➟ The Shipwrecked Star 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 Twelfth Night, and a genuine enthusiasm for Shakespeare's most joyful comedy that carries directly into their classroom work.
KS2 Curriculum Links for Twelfth Night
Our Twelfth Night 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 entertaining and accessible comedies, 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 rather than written text.
Inference and Analysis
Students constantly ask why: Why does Viola disguise herself as a man? Why does Olivia fall for someone she doesn't know? Why is Malvolio so easily fooled? This develops the inferential thinking that underpins KS2 reading assessment.
Comedic Literary Devices
Twelfth Night is an exceptionally engaging play for young learners. Exploring disguise, mistaken identity and theatrical wit in ways that resonate instantly with KS2 pupils and build genuine literary understanding of how comic drama works.
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, comic timing and dramatic irony. Providing exactly the stimulus and language they need for high-quality creative and analytical written responses about Twelfth Night.
SMSC and British Values
Students explore love and self-deception, cruelty and kindness, identity and belonging with strong links to Mutual Respect, Tolerance, Individual Liberty and the importance of treating others with dignity regardless of status.
What Teachers Say About Our Twelfth Night Workshop
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Highly recommend!! The workshop was superb. My colleague said that this was the best workshop/performance he has ever seen and he has been teaching for over 20 years. And I have to agree. The children were really engaged and the knowledge of Shakespeare they gained was above anything they would have taken from just watching a straight performance. So huge thanks from myself and Mount Pleasant Primary School."
- Clare Cotterill, Teacher, Mount Pleasant Primary School
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"We had James and Mark in today, and wow! We absolutely loved it - they are a credit to your company. We've had other companies in and have been great, but I have to say, yours was brilliant, and we wish we knew about it sooner. The children were captivated from the very start and totally engaged and immersed - I've never seen them as an audience sit for so long, completely hooked by the action going on. We would love to book again for next academic year!"
- Amy Jones, English Lead, Christ the King Catholic Primary School
What Your School Gains From The Experience
🎭 Themes
✓ Love and self-deception
✓ Identity and disguise
✓ Mistaken identity
✓ Status and class
✓ Cruelty and kindness
✓ Grief and joy
✓ Foolishness and wisdom
✓ Belonging and isolation
🧠 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.
The Tempest
Adventure, magic and forgiveness come together in an interactive workshop exploring one of Shakespeare's most imaginative plays.
Macbeth
Explore ambition, power and consequence through one of Shakespeare's most exciting tragedies. A favourite for introducing dramatic storytelling.
Julius Caesar
Explore friendship, loyalty and leadership through one of Shakespeare's greatest political dramas, brought vividly to life.
FAQs
How long is the Twelfth Night workshop?
Our Macbeth 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 Twelfth Night?
No, none at all. We tell the complete story from scratch, including the shipwreck, Viola's disguise, the love triangle and Malvolio's downfall, 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 Twelfth Night 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.