On Friday, May 9, students from Hawthorne Elementary performed scenes from the timeless drama of Shakespeare’s Macbeth as part of the Spring 2025 Bard Youth Fest.
This exciting opportunity for 25 Hawthorne students began around Halloween 2024 when the class first delved into the mystical world of Macbeth. “The students were deeply engaged, writing poems inspired by the Witches’ Spell from the play,” shared teacher Chloe Bond. “Their enthusiasm for Shakespeare prompted me to explore further learning opportunities. That’s when I discovered the Bard Youth Fest organized by Bard on the Beach in Vancouver and thought it would be an amazing experience for the students to take part in.”
From mid-February, the students dedicated two hours each week to rehearsing a captivating 15-minute adaptation of Macbeth, highlighting key moments from the play.
“Every single student in the class was an active participant in the play, which was awesome to see. They really enjoyed being able to work collaboratively with each other, and I think that they have developed a real appreciation of each other’s strengths,” said Ms. Bond. “The students were able to take a lot of ownership over how they delivered their lines, which allowed every student to shine. It was also a lot of fun, and an excellent opportunity for the students to learn in a dynamic, creative, non-competitive, and community-focused way. The students gained a lot of confidence through the whole experience,” said Ms Bond.
Aleksander, Grade 5, said that “It was fun and scary. The people were really nice. Try your best. If you make a mistake, who cares.”
Rei, Grade 4, said, “English was a bit difficult for me, but I’m glad I worked hard and did it together with everyone. It was so much fun!”
Clarke, Grade 4, said he “really enjoyed being on stage.”
Kayla, Grade 5, enjoyed being under the theatrical lights.
Students from schools across Metro Vancouver participated in the Bard Youth Fest. The performance on May 9 was exclusively for the families of the students involved, with approximately 250 parents and grandparents in the audience, creating an intimate and supportive environment for the young performers.
