English Literature students headed off to the home of The Bard for the School’s annual trip to Stratford, where they were treated to two remarkable but very different productions.

The first was the highly physical ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, a revival of director Gregory Doran’s hugely popular 2005 piece. No less transfixing was Tim Caroll’s production of ‘The Merchant of Venice’ which explored themes of revenge and power with notable intensity and chilling symbolism. 

Over the three days, staff and pupils also visited Hall’s Croft and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage where more was learnt of both Shakespeare’s life and the context for many of his plays. 

A morning’s rowing on the River Avon provided an enjoyable and somewhat amusing finale to the trip.