Shakespeare should be taught to children as young as four, before they have become intimidated by the language, the Royal Shakespeare Company will say today. Introducing the works of Shakespeare to teenagers is too late, the RSC will argue.
"With primary school kids there isn't a fear factor because they've never heard of him. What we do with children from the age of eight is unfold the story piece by piece and engage them with key moments of drama and try to get them involved in an empathetic moment of drama."
The suggestion that young children should learn Shakespeare comes as the RSC launches a campaign to improve the teaching of the Bard. A spokesman for the exams watchdog, the Qualification and Curriculum Authority, said a review of the primary curriculum ordered by the government would be an opportunity to revisit whether Shakespeare should be taught at a younger age.
Currently, it is compulsory from 13 and Shakespeare is the only writer to be a mandatory component of national tests at 14.
Michael Boyd, artistic director of the RSC, said: "Really, the right time to learn Shakespeare is when children are fearless, when they are used to trying out new language.
"That is very young children's daily existence, new words aren't a problem. You need to get them before they lose the habit of singing songs and have had the fairy dust shaken out of them."
The RSC today publishes a learning manifesto arguing for children to start Shakespeare as early as possible, to see it live and to learn it through drama and practical workshops.
O'Hanlon said: "Shakespeare is only compulsory from 13 and that's a very difficult time to introduce it, when they are struggling with staying involved in their schooling and quite insecure about trying. That's when you get young people saying it's irrelevant."
A spokesman for the QCA said: "You have to do Shakespeare from 13 and you're tested at 14. There is a review of the primary curriculum under way and that would be an opportunity for Jim Rose [the review's author] to look at it again.
"One approach we've recommended with the new secondary curriculum is that many more children should have the chance to see Shakespeare live."