On the 25th of November, the current Year 12 English Literature A-Level students took a trip to Stratford Upon-Avon to learn more about Shakespeare’s life and watch the play Othello, which plays an integral part of our course. 

The day started early on the minibus to the town centre, where we were shown the infamous river Avon, which inspired Shakespeare in many of his plays. From the river, we went to Shakespeare’s home and his school, King Edward VI Grammar School—one of the first grammar schools in the country. Despite its modest size, it was clear that this was where Shakespeare was allowed to develop a passion for academics and shape his creative genius. 

To finish, we gathered at the Royal Shakespeare Company to watch the critically acclaimed Othello. Despite being three hours long, the play was delightfully captivating because of its unique production, sound, and lighting. These techniques were used extensively to perceptively showcase the scenes and help the audience better understand the story. 

After the play, we discussed the outstanding performances of all the actors, notably Desdemona (played by Juliet Rylance) and Emilia (played by Anastasia Hille) as they presented their characters with more assertiveness and bravery than what we inferred by reading the play in class. Furthermore, they used a particularly eccentric way of metaphorically displaying the final act, where a lit curtain at the centre of the stage symbolised the entryway into death, providing a more sentimental and sombre tone to the cathartic chaos of murder. 

Many thanks to Mr Karlsson and Ms Benson for planning this trip. It proved to be extremely useful, not only to gain an insight into Shakespeare’s world but also to embrace the ambiguity of Othello and explore its different interpretations. 

Isabella Lorusso