Young stars from Oasis Academy Pinewood shine in Shakespearean performance: ‘Much Ado About Nothing.’

A talented group of pupils from a primary school in the heart of Romford participated in a performance of Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ on a professional stage.

In an appraisal letter addressed to Assistant Principal Sarah Gadsden, who also directed the performance, pupils from Oasis Academy Pinewood were described as portraying a ‘creative, fun and well-choreographed production,’ filling the stage with their ‘infectious energy.’

Each year thousands of young people from primary, secondary and SEND schools across the country unite in the world’s largest youth drama festival. The comprehensive festival process culminates in exhilarating performance evenings; young people playing Shakespeare in professional theatres, raising aspirations and unlocking the potential of students and teachers alike.

Oasis Academy Pinewood have been taking part in the Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival (CSSF) for several years and are being recognised for their young budding talent. Pupils from Oasis Academy Pinewood performed at the Kenneth Moore Theatre and were congratulated for “keeping the stakes high throughout the performance, and for maintaining “themes of the story which came to fore in the culmination of the show.”

Iain Jones from Shakespeare School Festival added: “This company told the story clearly and put their audience at ease in the world of their play. As an ensemble, they created a wonderful wedding arch with flowers, and used the whole of the stage effectively. There were some brilliant props, including highly theatrical masks for the ball, and wonderfully creative gloves to emphasise the shapes of the trees in the orchard scene.”

Sarah Gadsden, Assistant Principal of Oasis Academy Pinewood said: “Many of our cast had never been to a theatre before, let alone seen a Shakespearean play. Over the course of the rehearsals the children gained the confidence to speak in the language of Shakespeare, giving meaning and understanding to the lines. They gained the confidence to portray their character and to throw their voices to be heard as no microphones are used.”

“I am so proud of every member of the cast, each of them overcame their reservations and worked together as a team, supporting each other – they all most definitely embodied the Oasis nine habits.”

As a result of Oasis Academy Pinewood’s continuous participation at the Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival, the Academy has been awarded with a ‘Silver Schools’ badge which they can display on their school website.