Playing with Shakespeare a Win for Primary School Film Makers

Playing with Shakespeare a Win for Primary School Film Makers

“You think it’s not going to be interesting, but it’s cool” – that’s how award winning Year 4 student Daisy McLean describes Shakespeare.

Daisy, along with sister Georgia, twins Piper and Lilia Buhagiar (Cronulla South), and Toby and Isla McAlary (Robertson) won the Bell Shakespeare Shorts Festival competition in the Primary Film and Excellence in Performance Category, with their film, The Writers’ Room.

A group effort, it involved students and staff from three schools – budding actors from Robertson and Cronulla South Public Schools, with filming and editing provided by Port Hacking High School English and drama teacher James Cameron.

The Writers’ Room depicts the students pitching story ideas to a very difficult-to-please director – played perfectly by four year old Charlotte Cameron.

Their pitches make light of several well-known Shakespeare plays, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and the Comedy of Errors – the latter being dismissed by The Director as too confusing, with its multiple sets of twins.

The film was a collective effort, with input from parents and students alike, with the ultimate aim of showing young people that Shakespeare at heart is a bunch of fun characters and great stories.

Image: L-R Piper Buhagiar, Daisy McLean and Lilia Buhagiar.

For example, Mr Cameron reports that Charlotte is now engaged with Shakespeare’s stories, not knowing that the sixteenth century playwright has a reputation for being difficult for young modern audiences.

“My high school students also loved the film, and are now really into Shakespearean story lines to the point that they want to enter the competition next year,” he said.

Filmed just before lockdown, the award announcement was made just after gatherings were allowed again, giving the Cronulla South girls a chance to hold a red carpet event (with pizza) at home.

“It was the first time we were able to be together, and when they announced our names we were so proud,” explained Piper.

The six primary students – and young Charlotte – will receive acting classes with Bell Shakespeare as part of their prize packages.

As for a final word on Shakespeare, Lilia said: “If there are kids who think Shakespeare is boring, they just have to watch our film, because Shakespeare is funny, dramatic and inspiring.”

To watch The Writers’ Room, head to https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/bell-shakespeare-shorts-festival