Since our launch in 2000, we have seen over 300,000 young people from Aberdeen to the Isle of Wight, Belfast to Bromsgrove, Pembroke to Peterborough take on Shakespeare, achieve greatness and show the world what they are really made of.

"Our pupils got so much out of tonight, and of course the whole process. The Festival has not only challenged and stretched them but us too as practitioners. This has enabled us to see our pupils doing amazing things that we didn't think they could be capable of. Our dancers where questioned when I submitted our cast list as being too 'high risk' a cohort of pupils; they can on occasion display extremely challenging and violent behaviour. The Festival has helped to show their true potential and highlighted the importance of letting our pupils have a go and to be truly aspirational." Teacher-Director, Riverside School, Bromley

"While venue directing at Loch Gelly I saw the best version of Macbeth I have ever seen. The show felt professionally designed and the use of music and lighting significantly enhanced what was already a terrific production. What makes this so much more impressive is the fact that the director was a 17-year-old student, Vaila. After the dress rehearsal I took her aside, along under the supervision of her teacher who listened from a short distance away, and told her how brilliant the production was. I said I would be happy to give her future advice and guidance to help her as she starts her further training or career in directing. Her teachers at this point were quietly crying with joy and looking at their young student with so much pride. They later told me that they believe in her talent and to have a professional confirm it was a thrilling experience for them. Vaila also then began to cry as the teachers hugged her. This was the highlight of my Festival, as SSF touched lives and made a real difference to a community and school from a small town of Coupar in East Scotland." SSF Stage-Director

Schools performing in the Festival at the Pleasance Theatre in Islington received a surprise visit from Jeremy Corbyn, who gave SSF a resounding round of applause. He took his seat in the audience to watch Morningside Primary School’s Romeo and Juliet and to support schools performing in his constituency. The casts received high praise from their special guest and had the opportunity to meet him with their families and teachers. Jeremy Corbyn also showed the SSF team how much he remembered from his own Shakespeare education in school. Taking on the role of Macbeth, he teamed up with a Year 5 Lady Macbeth cast member to perform a scene in the theatre foyer.