Twenty-five years ago, the first Shakespeare Schools Festival took to the stage at the Torch Theatre in Pembrokeshire, igniting the spark that has since grown into the world’s largest youth drama festival.

Since then, Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation (CSSF) has empowered over 350,000 young people through the transformative power of Shakespeare, giving them the chance to shine on professional stages, grow in confidence, and discover their potential.

Setting the Stage for the Future

As we celebrate this milestone, we invite you to join us in looking back at our journey and forward to an inspiring and ambitious future. Our anniversary isn’t just a celebration, it’s the beginning of a new chapter.

Our anniversary will set us up to support 25,000 children and young people to experience performing Shakespeare over 25 months.

From June through December 2025, we’ll embark on a six-month series of events and initiatives that reflect our commitment to young people, creativity, and inclusion. Here’s what to expect:

Launching Our 2030 Strategy: “All the World’s Our Stage”

This new strategy will guide us in expanding access to drama and tackling educational disadvantage, ensuring Shakespeare and the performing arts remain relevant and inclusive for future generations. Leveraging the expertise of the Coram Group, we’ll bring drama opportunities to new spaces and settings, reaching vulnerable children and young people.

25 Years, 25 Stories

We’ll celebrate the impact of our work through stories from alumni, teachers, and communities who have been transformed by Shakespeare Schools Foundation and the supporters who made it happen.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Future

In June, we’ll present our ambitions to policymakers at a Parliamentary Reception, showcasing how 25,000 young people will experience the transformative power of Shakespeare in new and meaningful ways. We will call for change to ensure all young people, no matter their background, can experience the transformative power of the performing arts.

Creative Collaborators Conference

Bringing together educators, practitioners, and creative thought leaders in London in July, we will share innovative approaches to drama and education. Guests will meet contributors from CSSF’s 25-year history in a series of workshops and discussions. Previous collaborators include Sir Nick Hytner (Bridge Theatre, NT), Justin Audibert (Chichester Festival Theatre), Nickie Miles-Wildin (DaDa, Manchester Royal Exchange), Matthew Dunster (Shakespeare’s Globe, The Old Vic).

Shakespeare on Trial

In December 2025, our West End fundraiser will unite leading actors with top barristers as we put Shakespeare on Trial live on stage. The production will challenge audiences to rethink Shakespeare’s relevance and representation while raising vital funds to support our mission.

The Power of Shakespeare, Reimagined

CSSF’s approach to Shakespeare is active, immersive, and inclusive. We encourage bold reinterpretations and help young people connect with these timeless works in ways that shatter preconceptions and inspire creativity. By showcasing this work in partnership with 60 regional theatres, we’ll inspire new audiences and provide young people with career insights into the arts.

International Film Festival Showcase

Broadcast on Twelfth Night (5th Jan) in 2026, this digital event will highlight creative reinterpretations of Shakespeare from schools across the world as part of our International Short Film Festival.

Join Us in Celebrating 25 Years

Together, we can continue transforming lives, empowering 25,000 more young people to find their voices and imagine their futures.

If you have stories of the festival that you would like to share, please get in touch by emailing head@coramshakespeareschools.org.uk

We look forward to staying in touch throughout the year and hope you can join us at one of our events, meet the incredible people behind the stories, and support us to make the next 25 years even more impactful.

Together, we’ll prove that The Play’s the Thing