The QAS Shakespeare Speech Competition

The English department ran a Shakespeare Speech Competition to mark the playwrights birthday.

The Lower 4s (Year 7) have been studying A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Much Ado About Nothing, whilst the 4s (Year 8) have been studying The Taming of the Shrew and Twelfth Night. The two year groups were tasked with writing their own modern version of a speech by one of Shakespeare's characters. 

The department received some excellent new versions of well-known scenes but, in the end Erin (L4) and Joelina (4s) were announced as the winners! 

The English department said:

Both winners wrote highly imaginative versions of the speeches they were assigned, capturing through carefully crafted modern expression, the spirit of the original.

Erin

Much Ado About Nothing - Benedick’s speech,Act 2 scene 3

I do wonder why that man is such a fool? He used to laugh at people for falling in love and mock them and now he is in love! Ugh he is such a hypocrite! And this man, Claudio, is exactly that – my foolish friend. He used to lie awake thinking about the war, and he was so dedicated to it and such a great soldier (the best on the battlefield). He used to not care about what he looked like but now he needs to dress to impress. And all he can think about is love and poetry. Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?

He is falling in love! This is not the man I became friends with.

All the women love me, yet I don’t love any. If I fall in love, I will become the worst type of person. I would be really fed up and depressed. I sincerely promise if I fall in love this is what will happen to me. He can’t make me seem like a fool if I don’t act like one. I must not fall in love, and I never will.

 No matter what type of woman it is or who I don’t care. One is beautiful, I don’t care. One is wise, I don’t care. Another has high standards, I don’t care.  

I do not want them.  

However, I shall only love them if they have all those qualities. Nonetheless I would still not be sure as I do not believe in love. If I was to fall in love, they shall have all those things.  It doesn’t matter what colour her hair is to me leave it up to luck. Ha, whatever!  

Joelina

Tranio, for the great desire I had

To see beautiful Padua, nursery of learning,

I have arrived in purposeful Lombardy,

The most pleasant place of growth in great Italy,

And because of my father’s great love and permission, I am equipped,

With his compassion and your great company-

My trusty servant, shown by experience to be good in every way-

We should have a rest here and perhaps undertake

A course of learning and liberal studies.

Pisa is famous for its solemn citizens

Providing my and, before me, my father’s existence,

A merchant of great trade around the world,

Vincentio descending from Bentivolii.

As I am Vincentio’s son, brought up in Florence,

I will fulfil all expectations imagined

To earn his fortune with moral actions.

And therefore, Tranio, for the duration of my studies,

Dignity and its philosophy

Will be my focus,

To achieve happiness since virtue will mainly achieve this.

Tell me what you think, since I have left Pisa

And came to Padua like someone

Who leaves a shallow puddle to dive into as if it were deep water

And with over-indulgence trying to satisfy their thirst.