Freedom is months away. One Shakespeare unit stands between Year 12 and the rest of their lives. And the teacher covering the class? A PE sub who absolutely did not sign up for this.

This was the premise of The Shakespeare Project — a wholly original musical devised by 28 students from 13 Sydney Catholic Schools alongside Australia’s foremost Shakespearean theatre company Bell Shakespeare. The production held in May at The Space Theatre, NIDA was also staged with full production support from National Institute for Dramatic Arts third-year students.

Bell Shakespeare worked with the Sydney Catholic School students in a series of workshops to give students a practical experience and training with Shakespeare’s language, focused on a performance approach to Shakespeare’s language, characters and stories.

Bell Shakespeare’s Head of Education and an award-winning playwright Joanna Erskine wrote two original scenes as part of the project, to be performed alongside other new scenes and student work. 

“It’s been wonderful to work with Sydney Catholic Schools because of the vast spread and diversity of the schools involved,” she said.

“It is rare to work with so many schools from across Sydney within one project. It’s been a thrilling and creative way to work with schools for the first time, and support students with their Shakespeare engagement.”

Bell Shakespeare teaching artists Tom Matthews, James Thomassen, and Shelley Casey directed the Bell Shakespeare scenes and supported the project through rehearsals and tech.

Sydney Catholic Schools Executive Director Danielle Cronin said the creative arts are essential to a well-rounded education in a world increasingly shaped by AI, cultivating the qualities that make us deeply human.

“As we pursue Magis 2033, we are committed to an education that forms capable and creative students and …

A group of Sydney Catholic Schools students will take to the stage at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) this May to premiere an original musical inspired by the works of William Shakespeare.

The production, The Shakespeare Project, is the result of a unique collaboration between Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS), Bell Shakespeare, and NIDA, bringing together 28 students from 12 secondary schools to write, develop and perform an entirely original stage production.

Among them is Year 11 student writer Katerina Ifandoudas from Marist Catholic College Penshurst, whose submitted scene has been selected for the final performance. She will also appear on stage alongside her triplet sisters, Evangelia and Irini, portraying a modern twist on Shakespeare’s famous trio from Macbeth — the witches reimagined as emo teenagers.

“Blending old and modern English without it sounding disjointed taught me that Shakespeare’s exploration of human nature is still relevant today. Recontextualising is a fun way to hook new audiences,” she said.

“When my script got chosen, It reassured me that I can follow my dream of being a screenwriter and director one day.”

The musical centres on a familiar scenario for many students: a confident Year 12 class returning to school only to discover they must complete a Shakespeare unit to graduate. At the heart of the story is their eccentric teacher, Miss Prospero — enthusiastic, passionate and determined to make the Bard come alive for even the most reluctant students.

Cast member Kara Doven, a Year 12 student from St Vincent’s College Ashfield who plays Miss Prospero, said the experience has deepened her understanding of Shakespeare’s work.

“All she wants to do is share her love of Shakespeare with her students, and even if some resist, she doesn’t let it dim her light,” Kara said.

“Through strange but effective pedagogy methods and a witty personality, …