Students taking part in an Ensemble Workshop with the RSC

Yasmin Taheri, who has appeared in a number of RSC productions including The Merchant of Venice and Henry VI parts 2 and 3, led the workshop with the students.

This workshop focussed on building an ensemble, using exercises from Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, and Macbeth.

The students found the workshop really useful and would use the lessons they had learnt in the rest of their course and for their future careers.

Yasmin Taheri leading the workshop
Video: how the workshop benefits our students

As we gathered for our final reflection, I was struck by the trust and joy radiating throughout the room. This workshop taught me the creative value of play and helped our ensemble to become a space where we can do so constructively and unapologetically

Rebecca Stevenson (MA Shakespeare and Creativity student)

Katharine Cognant-Black said “You really get to work with the practitioners who are doing this work professionally and focussing on ensemble and community, all these things that I think are so important when it comes making theatre. I think that sense of play is at the heart of a lot of work here and particularly this Workshop and leads to some amazing creative work.”

Yasmin Taheri said “All the exercises we've been doing have been using Shakespeare's text in a way that students can connect to and bring themselves to it. it's about encouraging the next generation of people who work with or around Shakespeare and helping them find some ownership over it.”

Acting during the Ensemble wokshop