Shakespeare CPD

Shakespeare CPD with Dr Hester Lees-Jeffries and a Performance of Twelfth Night

Wednesday 21 January, 5.30pm

Join us for this free CPD session designed for secondary school English and Drama teachers, including NQTs.

Hester is a member of the Faculty of English, Cambridge University, and a fellow of St Catharine’s College. She teaches Shakespeare and Renaissance literature; her books include Shakespeare and Memory (2013), Textile Shakespeare (2025), and a new introduction to the New Cambridge Romeo and Juliet (2023). She has a longstanding association with the Prince’s Teaching Institute, and since 2018 has written daily #SlowShakespeare blogs, on Twitter @starcrossed2018 and Bluesky @starcrossed2018.bsky.social

This free CPD session will explore creative ways to approach Shakespeare’s works, with a particular focus on Macbeth, Much Ado, and Twelfth Night.

Topics will include:

1. How scary is Macbeth?
2. Macbeth, war, and masculinity
3. Boys and banter in Much Ado
4. How does a comedy end? Much Ado and Twelfth Night.

There will be close textual work and a look at theatre history, as well as time to share ideas and connect with colleagues. We also welcome participants to send additional prompts in advance regarding themes or material they may wish to focus on, please email [email protected]

After the session, we invite you to relax and enjoy a performance of Twelfth Night – a witty and heartwarming production full of love, deception, and mistaken identities. One ticket to Twelfth Night is included for each teacher booked on to the CPD session.

Spaces are limited, advanced booking essential.