Macbeth, the Movie Star... and Me

'It looks like things are shaping up to be pretty busy already...'

David Harewood's in Hollywood.

He's getting ready for one of the biggest nights of his acting career.

He's going to the Golden Globes.

George Clooney's gonna be there, Brad Pitt's gonna be there.

Just about every movie star I've seen in the last ten years

is probably going to be in the room,

which is pretty cool. Particularly if you...

I'm used to watching these things on the TV.

It's just awesome.

David may be rubbing shoulders with the glitterati,

but he hasn't forgotten his roots.

He's coming home for a special challenge,

to put on a performance from Shakespeare

with kids from his old school.

But he'll have just five days to do it.

And these are hardly the Bard's biggest fans.

Shakespeare? He's outdated. His time's gone.

It's not something you'd want to read...and stuff,

because they're all based in the Victorian times, like,

back, like, years ago, and this is the 21st century,

so we don't need to be reading books about that.

I don't get the one about, what is it, Midsummer Night's Dream?

Is that what it is? Yes? I don't get that.

I've never read it, but, yeah. I still wouldn't get it,

because it's about a man becoming a donkey.

'Monday morning, February the 27th.

'It's eight o'clock on BBC WM 95.6...'

Monday morning, and David's back in his home city.

He's on his way to his old school.

It's been a while.

It's very weird...

..um, coming back, going back to school.

I recognise a lot of this stuff around here.

It's strange to be back,

but there'll be little time to dwell on the past.

David's got till Friday to prepare a group of students

for a performance from Macbeth.

To add the pressure,

they'll be onstage at the home of Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon.

It's going to be a challenge, because...

I don't like doing things in half measures.

If I want to do it, I want to do it really well.

So if you can enthuse them to the Shakespeare,

and if fall in love with the language and if they can perform it,

I think they'll get more out of it if they put something into it.

I really want to make sure they put a lot of effort into it.

-Hello.

-Good morning, how are you?

-I'm very well.

-What's it like to be coming back to school after 30 years?

-Slightly odd.

-Is it really?

-Yes, really odd.

Scaffolding's been a positive feature!

-Morning, nice to see you.

-Nice to meet you.

-Pleased to meet you too.

-I'm David. Welcome, yes.

-Bev Mabey - head teacher now.

-Bev, nice to meet you.

-So, yes, thank you very much.

-OK.

First thing I'll have two say to you is, as a student here,

-can you get your cap off, please?

-THEY LAUGH

Do come in and welcome anyway. Thank you.

-There I am.

-Wow. There you are.

For David to be coming to Washwood Heath is a great privilege for us.

I'll be very interested to see how he works

and copes and manages young people...

'to motivate them in the right way

'so they get something really concrete from it'

will be very interesting, and I shall stand on the sidelines

and may have a little chuckle occasionally.

After a short stroll along memory lane, it's down to business.

David's got to pick his cast

and he's asked drama teacher Gemma Barlow to give him a hand.

More than anything, I think this morning what would be really helpful is if you could...

maybe we could get some games going,

particularly in terms of... for me to see their personality.

Because I've got to try and find, hopefully by the end of the day...

There's four main people that we really need.

I think there's obviously, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Macduff and a Banquo,

so I need people with kind of fairly strong personalities.

I might be a bit of a dictator this week,

because I want to make sure this challenge goes well.

I don't want to lose this challenge. I want to make sure I nail it.

I'm not here to fail. So, let's go.

Hello!

-Hi.

-Hi.

-Hello. How are you?

-Fine, thank you.

-Fine, thanks.

HE LAUGHS

David has just the morning to whittle this lot down

to a cast of just eight or nine.

Time's tight, so he needs them on their feet quickly.

First up, improv.

Hello, and today I am here to sell this hat.

It's the actual Harry Potter hat from Harry Potter.

LAUGHTER

Imagine if there's like, a drive-by and, you know,

in case you need something to protect you,

then this will do the job.

You can even have some fun in the bedroom with these...

DROWNED OUT BY LAUGHTER

'Some of them have done drama before and performing arts,

'and some of them just have decided to take other options,

'so there's quite a mixed ability of students in the room.

'It is going to be challenging. But I think'

that they'll grab it with both hands and go with it, definitely.

So it's not exactly a room full of young Gielguds.

But David's already spotted some potential.

Now he needs to see a little bit more.

I think I've already got a clear idea of who I want to cast,

but I want to make sure I see

everybody up on their feet, doing something.

-Imran is under our control now.

-Your control?

-Yes.

-I'm his mum.

Who cares? His loyalty lies with the gang.

This is a message to him.

A one-off mistake, yeah? Two buildings lost, father lost, that's it.

'I reckon there's eight... There are eight parts,

'but I reckon there's at least ten kids

'that I'd like to get involved.'

That was for my headache.

-It was cocaine!

-No, it wasn't!

'So, this next process is going to be about'

cutting down from 27 in there to 10

and then possibly losing another two.

But I'm going to wait on that.

But, unfortunately, I'm going to have to go in there and get,

um, the numbers down,

so there's going to be some disappointed kids, I think.

'Let's make a shape, with an A...' He's rubbish.

After just an hour or so with the kids, it's "make your mind up" time.

-Put him down as a possible.

-OK.

'I'm excited.'

You're waiting for them to deliberate,

then they come back and send the people off.

It's like waiting for X Factor. I feel like one of the contestants.

-I think you need him for...

-Imran?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-For Macduff.

-OK.

It's tough.

This is tough.

Right, so you've got 11 which are possibles.

And how many do I need?

-Eight.

-Eight?

-Eight/nine.

-Eight/nine.

So I've got to get it down to three.

Hello!

-ALL:

-Hello. Hi.

Can you all get in a circle?

Deliberations over,

David now has to let them know who's got through.

Melissa. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Sophie Heggerty.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Qasim...

It's a big moment,

and all the lucky ones are chuffed to be chosen.

Well, almost everyone.

Is there anyone who's been picked who doesn't want to be in it?

INAUDIBLE

-Do you really not want to be in it?

-Too scared.

-Are you too scared?

GENTLE LAUGHTER

-Are you too scared?

-Yeah.

You know, I was really scared when I first acted.

-But we were more scared than you.

-Huh?

LAUGHTER

But you know, it's really good to be scared.

It's a sign, it's a sign of nerves.

So I think it will be something that will be good for you.

It's probably one of the reasons why I picked you.

-So, do you want to come along with it?

-I don't know.

LAUGHTER

-You want to have a think about it?

-Yes. I'll think about it.

-You'll think about it?

-Yes.

Asfan may want to mull it over, but David's on a deadline.

Time for a bit of gentle persuasion.

There were just some things that you did in your improvisations,

I liked your presence, you're very strong,

and I think you'd be a very strong presence.

-Will I have much to say?

-Um, we'll have to see.

I mean, I'm not so sure you have much to say,

but, as I say, it's your presence more than anything else,

because you've got a lot of strength,

and I would really like your presence involved.

-What do you think?

-Then I'll do it, yes, I'll do it.

-You'll do it?

-Yes.

-Do you fancy coming down to London?

-Yes.

Fancy coming to see some Shakespeare?

-Yes, only for a bit, like.

-Only for a bit?

-Not too long.

Not too long? All right. Well, I think you'll get a lot out of it.

-So I'd like it if you would...

-Yes, I'll be there.

I've got no experience in acting or anything. I'm just like,

I just do, basically like... I'm one of the sporty people,

I'm not one of those, acting kind of people.

But after this, you never know, I could be.

If I'm not going to do it now, I might regret it later on,

so it's best to just, like, take it on.

BELL RINGS

With his cast complete and the kids at lunch,

David can't resist another quick peek into the past.

I used to sit right here when I was about...

14, 15 years old.

Right in this place, right here.

But it's hard to think this is exactly where it all started,

in this very room.

Did you ever think you'd be back here doing this?

HE LAUGHS No!

No, I didn't. I didn't think I'd be back here teaching, but,

oh, it's been fantastic.

It's great just to sit here for a second and just think about it.

It feels good.

The memories may be flooding back,

but David needs to focus on the job in hand.

The cast are waiting.

It's roll-call time.

I was a bit nervous morning, because I didn't know...

I didn't know what you were going to be like,

I didn't know how you were going to make it work.

But when I saw you all doing the improvisations, you all stood out.

Mr Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth.

Malcolm.

I want you to look at the Porter.

Donald Blaine(!)

LAUGHTER

Banquo.

We're going to split the Lennox lines between the two of you guys.

So that's everybody with something to do. So, no emotion.

Just so that I can hear it out loud,

I want to just read it flat.

Retire, we are...

we...to our chamber.

A little water clears us of this deed.

He wanted flat, and that's exactly what he's getting.

These rough diamonds are going to take some polishing.

..where our fate, Hid in an auger-hole, may rush and seize us?

Let's away. Our tears are not yet brewed.

Right. OK.

The full scale of the task ahead is dawning on David.

Even leading man Qasim, who's acted before,

is struggling with the language.

How couldst...?

-I would thou couldst.

-Oh, "couldst".

I think it's going to be challenging, reading the lines

and learning these lines and interpreting it into emotions.

I think that's what's going to be hard.

But, other than that, the other thing is stage fright as well.

I get a lot, when I get on stage, I start to mumble and I start,

yeah...I've got to be able to control myself.

When you go home tonight, have a look at the lines,

take the modern interpretation with you.

If ever you get lost, just read it so you know what you're saying.

It's the end of the busy day,

and despite a couple of stuttering read-throughs,

David thinks the kids have made progress.

I think they now understand what the scene's about

and what's happening in the scene,

so, tomorrow...I think tomorrow, we'll be able to play some of it

and be able to get it on their feet, so,

I'm happy with that.

(Cap back on.)

(Let's sneak out now.)

It's Tuesday. Four days to go.

And David's in early after a restless night.

A slightly sleepless night last night,

because I was thinking about what I'm going to do today.

I am kind of half torn between, um...

kind of going easy on them and really going into the deep end,

because we haven't really got that much time.

So, I've have got to be a little bit, kind of,

um, I wouldn't say forceful, but I've got to push them a little bit,

so today's going to be quite a tough day for them.

He needs to push the kids today, so he's called in an old pro -

his English teacher, Eric Reader,

the man who first spotted his potential, is coming back to help.

DAVID LAUGHS

-Hello.

-Look at him!

-Hello, mate.

-Hi. Good to see you.

-Good to see you.

-You too!

-You haven't changed.

-What do you mean I haven't changed?

And, it seems, this guy's not one to mess around.

What was it you saw in me?

We put David in a play to stop him being expelled from school.

LAUGHTER

Is that what it was?

Well, you weren't the model student, were you?

LAUGHTER

Quite, quite angry there, OK?

The reunion's over. It's time for the old master and pupil

to start knocking this lot into shape.

Come in, "Oh, shut up, what's wrong with you?"

You don't know the three things? Well, marry, sir...

It's working well. The kids are coming on.

And for David, having Eric here is a reminder of just how far he's come.

It's weird, because, literally, everything I have,

the clothes that I'm wearing, the house that I live in,

that my family live in,

I've bought out of the proceeds of my profession, acting.

If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have had any of it.

That's really bizarre to think about.

The more you can keep it open, the more you can address...

It's almost like acting with your back.

'He's world-famous. He's done tremendously well.

'But he's completely natural, isn't he?'

He can inspire, motivate children. I mean, look at their faces.

They want to work with him.

They want to learn from him.

So, that's tremendous.

I think we've improved.

They're stopping us every two minutes and kind of giving us advice of how to do this line,

how you should say it, where to move, movements, characterisation.

So, yeah, it's much better than last time.

And even first-time actor Asfan is starting to find his feet.

I'm feeling quite better right now.

'Before, I wasn't really confident, but now I'm getting used to it

'and getting better.'

The morning session's over, and Eric's heading off.

His experience has really helped David.

'Well, we did pretty well this morning, getting them on their feet.

'And already they're starting to really kind of enjoy the language, which is fantastic.

'One or two have already learnt their lines. So I'm actually ahead of schedule,

'which is great.'

So I think by the end of the day... I've got two hours.

I want to get to the end of the scene.

If we can run it a couple of times, fantastic.

'So at least they know what the physical scene is.'

And then, I think we're in good form.

You old hippy.

Thank you, David!

David's upbeat, but there's still plenty of work to do.

Leading man Qasim's doing well, but there's a problem.

Shaneka, who's playing Lady Macbeth, is struggling.

-Why did you bring these daggers...?

-Great.

So the first bit of that is almost like you're calming him down.

You're just trying to calm...

"Relax, I'm going to take care of it, everything is going to be..."

"Why did you bring the daggers?!"

It's like two distinct emotions.

The first one's, "Calm down, calm down." The second one's, "You idiot!"

I'd quite like to work with Shaneka for a while on the character of Lady Macbeth.

She was just losing some of the language,

especially at the beginning, so I'd quite like to work with her now.

He is about it.

'The potential problem area...'

it's just ensuring that there's an understanding of what she's saying.

And to try and get the dominance of the character across,

and the fact that the character is quite evil.

You know how David said to you about using the light and dark shade in your voice?

Remember how I've been really kind of lowering my tone

with regards to, "He is about it"?

'I wasn't feeling too well. I had a sore throat

'but tried my hardest to try and get my character across.'

I thought it'd get easier each time,

but because I had to add something new in every time,

whether it was acting, the way I walked, the way I said something,

it's almost as if it got more difficult.

With one of his main characters feeling the strain,

David can't be over-confident.

But he's still pleased, if a little tired.

I don't know how they do it, teachers. God! I'm exhausted.

Yeah, brilliant day. I'm glad that we got to where we got to.

To have run through the scenes,

although I think the end's a bit chaotic.

'I just didn't have the energy to block it out.

'I was too tired by then. That's a terrible thing to say.'

But I think, um...

I think with tomorrow and Thursday,

I think we'll have enough time to clear that up.

And I really pushed them. So I'm really glad we did what we did.

Wednesday. Three days until the big performance in Stratford-upon-Avon,

and David's taking a chance.

He's decided to give up a whole day in the drama studio

and take the kids to London for a special workshop instead.

It's going to be a little bit of a gamble, because we're losing a day of rehearsal.

And I think, today, it's going to be strange,

because we're going to be sitting down on a coach travelling most of the day.

Smiley faces, hoods off.

So I'm hoping that they don't lose that energy,

hoping they don't lose that work ethic.

Hopefully, we'll do some work on the coach today,

but it's a little bit of a risk, because we've only got five days,

and this is almost like losing a day of rehearsal.

So, yeah, bit of a gamble.

-This is a sorry sight.

-A foolish thought to say a sorry sight.

Methought I heard a voice cry,

"Sleep no more. Macbeth does murder sleep."

And I want you to think about what your intention is.

It's a bit of a gamble, but David's determined to reduce the risk.

So he's making sure everyone's up to scratch with their scripts.

I'm almost done learning this and I'm sure everyone else is.

We're quite confident. This morning, we had a run-through without scripts.

Before we left, we actually had a run-through. Most people knew their lines.

-We have a strong foundation, ready to build up on it now.

-Yeah.

They're learning their lines now, cos they're able to not look at the script so much.

So they've obviously been away and learnt some lines overnight,

which is very positive.

The kids may've spent the evening learning their lines,

but someone wasn't quite so conscientious.

David caught up his brother, and they had a few drinks.

So I'm a little bit the worse for wear.

You might just find me having 40 winks or a power nap on the coach.

Am I slacking my responsibilities?

You said it yourself!

They're all right. And anyway, I'm back at Washwood,

so I'm just filling in my normal role of being the naughty kid.

So I couldn't very well be at Washwood and not be naughty!

After a sneaky snooze, David's back on form.

He's taking the kids to an acting workshop at the historic Globe Theatre.

Shakespeare, like, you know, we read Shakespeare in books now,

and it's become very intellectual.

But, actually, when Shakespeare wrote his words,

they were written for people to speak them. They were written to be spoken.

Whatever you do, do not look at me.

-Art thou afeard?

-We will proceed no further.

-Art thou afeard?

These sessions are especially for novice actors,

and the once-reluctant Asfan is really starting to come out of his shell.

We will proceed no further!

I've just seen Asfan in there - he's got so much power.

So much power. When he released and said, "We shall proceed no further,"

and he really let it out of him, he was like a tank.

'And I kind of thought, "Damn! He's the kind of guy you want playing Macbeth."

'He's just somebody who's trying to contain the power.'

I knew I wanted him on the project,

because I just knew there was something in there that I wanted to get out.

And I've just seen a glimpse of it.

A foolish thought to say a sorry sight.

And it's not just Asfan who's coming good.

After her bad day yesterday,

leading lady Shaneka is getting to grips with her role.

..smear the sleepy grooms with blood.

Starting to think about the vowel sounds,

to think about meaning and intensity and emotion.

So you were really dominating him today. Did you feel that?

-Yeah, I did.

-How was it for you? What did you think?

It felt really quite powerful, especially against him.

It was like, it felt really powerful.

Has it made you trust your character, trust your ability as an actor?

-It has done.

-Good, good. It's fantastic.

Whence is that knocking?!

Good work all round. David's gamble might actually be paying off.

And he's got one more card to play.

He's taking the kids to see an old mate who's starring in a hit Shakespearean production.

-I'm Lenny. I play Antipholus of Syracuse.

-We know who you are!

I'm from Dudley.

And it's really weird to be acting on stage at the National Theatre.

Because I didn't like Shakespeare at all. I'm allergic to Shakespeare.

When everybody goes, "How thee, thy..." I get sick and throw up.

When you do it, it becomes much easier to understand.

So this is it. Apparently, there's a sweet spot here. So if you stand... Come here.

There was an actor called Michael Bryant who used to act at the National Theatre.

And he used to like to stand here

because his voice suddenly became very big when he stood here.

Even if he stood here, his voice became like this.

But when he was here, it was like this!

So this is the sweet spot, apparently, about here.

-So you should give it a try.

-Give us one of your lines.

Think about hitting the back of the stage.

-Go, Imran.

-Go on.

-Was it so late? Nah, that's too small.

-Was it so late?

Was it so late, friend...

Ere you went to bed...

-Ere you went to bed, that you do lie so late?

-Very good.

-Very good.

Anybody else got a line?

Let's away. Our tears are not yet brewed.

Wow! My pants nearly flew off then!

Can you hear how it resonates and echoes? Can I do one of my lines?

Hello!

How are you? What the heck is this play about anyway?

I have seen a man who looks just like me.

I think that might be wrong.

It's good, isn't it? It really, really reverberates in here.

It's really nice to meet you.

-Whereabouts in Brum are you from?

-Washwood Heath.

-Washwood Heath.

-It's my old school.

-Is it?

So this will be new to you - electricity and velvet on the seats!

And on that note, my friends, right on, brother, right on.

-Big round of applause for Lenny.

-Break a leg with your scene.

-Thank you so much.

-Take care.

-Take care, Lenny.

How about that? How about that?

How about that? Top man, coming to see us and give us access.

The access that man just gave us was incredible.

That's how much goodwill we've all got going for you. So let's repay them on Friday morning.

Let's really take on board everything we've learned today. We've had a fantastic day.

We've been to the Globe and now we've been on stage at the National Theatre, the Olivier Theatre,

Laurence Olivier's place.

Today was probably the best day of the week.

Early on, when we were in that Shakespeare place,

it was like quite...

At first, I was really nervous, the man making me do all these things.

'But the first time I'd done it, I felt really good about it.

'And then I really wanted to continue doing it and not stop.'

So it's like, it's really boosted up my confidence, and all these actors and things.

Before, if I'd tried to do that, I don't think I'd ever be able to do it.

I want you to shout that word to the ceiling.

The way that we were taught how to speak and to act,

it's just made me come out of my shell a bit more.

I don't feel as silly as such coming out and doing it properly. So, yeah.

It's Thursday. The big day's looming.

And yesterday's euphoria has gone.

Everyone's exhausted.

I've got concerns that the kids are tired.

I'm tired. They must be tired.

I think one or two of them are feeling a little bit tender.

I've heard Qasim is not feeling 100%.

And I can hear one or two of their voices are a little bit tired.

So I'm a little bit worried about pushing them too hard.

-Here he is. How are you feeling?

-I've got flu.

-You've got flu?

-Yeah.

Just take it easy today, yeah. Try and take it easy today.

-Are you feeling a little bit weak?

-I'm OK, I'm OK. I've just got flu.

OK. Much more room.

Let's get a bigger, bigger circle. Big, big circle. Even bigger.

'You can hear people are forgetting their lines and some people are forgetting the diction,

'forgetting to use the language.'

I know everybody's tired, but we have to crank up the engagement in who's speaking and what's happening.

'I thought we'd taken a step back from yesterday. Which is not surprising.'

Everyone's tired. Even MY voice is tired.

People are forgetting their lines,

and someone hasn't even learnt all hers.

Mumtaz is playing Banquo, and there's one key part she just can't get right.

When our...naked frailties are hid,

we...something, and then we shall meet.

-See, I don't know.

-Unprofessional.

-I know.

I have to go over them. Sorry.

Oh, horror, horror, horror!

She needs to go over them, but it's getting a bit tight.

Around this time tomorrow, the kids'll be on stage.

And, for everyone, things are going from bad to worse.

And when we have our naked... naked frailties hid...

Keep the first three. Keep it on him.

..with accents terrible. Of dire...combustion...

The repetition, in a woman's ear, would murder as it fell.

-Let us meet.

-Sorry?

-Let us meet.

-Let us meet and...

-In the great hand of God I stand.

-In the great hand of God I stand.

Because I'm sitting over here and I can't actually see anything.

So that's why I want to try and create as much space as we can, guys.

Ring the alarum bell! Awake! Murder! Treason! Awake!

What's the business that... Sorry, can I do that again?

'Bad day today. I felt I let everyone down as well today.'

I wasn't very...

I didn't have the inspiration today, didn't have the spark. Um...

And it's difficult.

It's a lot more difficult than I thought it was going to be.

Particularly at the end. It's quite a difficult scene, because there's a lot of passion

and there's a death and there's nine actors on stage.

And it's difficult anyway with actors.

But with non-actors, it's even more difficult.

And I underestimated it.

'They're dead on their feet. Dead on their feet.

'So they'll probably all go home and all go out, go raving or whatever.'

I don't know what kids do these days. But I think they just need...

It's terrible to say, having had a break yesterday, but I think they just need an early night.

Because it was late last night.

David's London gamble seems to have backfired.

But rather than raving, Qasim and Mumtaz are having a night of maths and Macbeth.

There's still some work to be done.

I think we'll know them by tomorrow. It's just focus, Mumtaz.

Hmm?

You need to be able to focus.

-And when we have our naked frailties hid...

-Yeah...

And when we have our naked frailties hid, that suffer in exposure...

-Yeah...

-..let us meet...

-..let us meet...

-Yeah. In...

-In...

..in...in the hand of God.

-In the great hand of God.

-..in the great hand of God, I stand...

..hence...

-And thence.

-Thence?

-AND thence.

-..and thence...

..and thence...

..and thence against the undivulged pretence I fight,

of treason's malice.

Yeah, you know your lines, don't you?(!)

SHE LAUGHS

Sarcastic!

-I just have to go over them.

-She needs to learn them.

It's the big day.

The kids must put on their performance this afternoon,

and yesterday was a disaster.

But there's another problem - David's lost most of his actors.

Well, yeah, I've got a cast of three, down from nine.

Apparently... Apparently! There IS an exam this morning, so,

erm, six of them are off doing proper schoolwork,

which I didn't actually figure would happen.

I thought I would lose three. But, erm, I've actually lost six.

So, there's not really a lot I can do, really.

I'm sitting here, or standing here,

I've done a little bit of work with the three that I've got,

but...

You know, we're supposed to be performing it today,

so I need to run it, I really need to run the scene,

and I can't run a scene if I haven't got actors.

To make matter's worse, top voice coach Patsy Rodenburg is coming to give him a hand.

She's helped big name actors like Nicole Kidman and Orlando Bloom.

But most of David's cast could miss out on this expert help.

So a little bit of a mix-up this morning.

A cast of nine, and six of them have exams.

-Oh!

-Yeah.

-OK. Well, that's... We'll work around it.

-Yeah. Could we just do some work with just the three of them?

-Yes, absolutely.

-And I think, because they've learnt it so quickly...

-It's great.

..which is fantastic, but I now want them, almost,

-to forget the rhythm that they've learned and maybe find...

-The other rhythm. Shakespeare's rhythm.

-Shakespeare's rhythm.

-It's learning by heart, not by head?

-Exactly.

Push, as though... Now, do you see what happens to your body?

I'll do it with you, so you don't feel such an idiot. Ba-boom!

I'm going to ask you to do something quite odd, and by the way,

if there's anything I ask you to do and you don't want to, tell me.

Sort of, your brain runs ahead of your mouth.

"About it." Do you see? "About it."

It is falling off a bit.

Some intense one-on-one training,

and with barely an hour before they have to go,

the rest of the cast finally turn up.

There's just enough time for some last-minute work.

The first thing I'm going to talk about is the way that you're standing.

One, two... And again. And...

To Ireland, I. Our separated fortune shall keep us both the safer.

One, two, three.

-I believe drink gave thee the lie last night.

-Very good.

-I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?

-Very good.

Much better, fantastic.

ALL: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

Can you get over ten?

It was an unruly night.

Do you hear all those Ts?

Every word matters.

Why did you bring these daggers from the place? Go carry them and smear the sleepy grooms with blood.

-I believe drink gave thee the lie last night.

-That it did, sir.

Is thy master stirring?

BELL RINGS

Time's up.

The kids have to get off to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Patsy's seen them all only briefly,

but does she think they'll pull this off?

I think they're going to get there.

There's a couple of them that are very good, actually.

Two of the students are very good, and, actually,

their energy and commitment will pull the rest through.

So she thinks they'll get there.

And while this morning's rehearsal time may have been cut

drastically short, the kids' confidence is still high.

But has everyone learned their lines?

Oh, God!

-Oh. And...

-As we hid our naked...

-No, no.

And when we have our naked frailties hid,

that suffer in exposure, let us meet.

In the great hand of God I stand,

thence against the undivulged pretence I fight,

of treason's malice.

Boom!

Mumtaz has finally nailed it.

Now, for the cast, the small task of getting it right for the big show at the prestigious Swan Theatre.

-You're scared?

-Yeah.

-Don't be scared, it's really exciting.

Ah, it's great.

As soon as I get into a theatre as an actor,

I start to feel really excited.

You can tell already from their voices, how excited they are.

They're really looking forward to it now. This is crunch time now.

I'm buzzing, I'm buzzing. I want to get on stage and do it myself.

Right, OK, look, guys...

'I'm feeling really nervous for them,

'but I know they're going to do me proud.'

It might be emotional for me this afternoon.

You never know, you might see the odd little tear.

'I'm getting a bit nervous. I don't want to mess up on stage.'

There might be a few members of the public coming, as well.

-Ooh! Maybe they'll spot me...no!

-That's interesting.

How does that make you feel? Does it make a big difference?

-I think that makes it better, because they're strangers.

-Yeah.

And you don't know them, so, you know,

-I think you show them what you've got.

-Yeah!

-Flaunt it.

After just four days' practice,

can the kids really show this audience what they've got?

They need to put those nerves behind them, remember their lines.

The moment has arrived.

He is about it.

The doors are open

and the surfeited grooms do mock their charge with snores.

-Oh, this is a sorry sight.

-A foolish thought to say a sorry sight!

Methought I heard a voice cry, "Sleep no more."

Macbeth does murder sleep. Innocent sleep.

Macbeth shall sleep no more.

Infirm of purpose!

Give me the daggers and I'll gild the grooms with...the...

I'll gild the grooms.

SHE STAMPS HER FEET

(What happened?)

I...I got nervous. I forgot what I had to say.

Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hands?

My hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear a heart so white.

Anon, anon! I pray you, remember the porter.

Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed that you do lie so late?

Faith, sir. We were carousing till the second cock.

And drink, sir, is a provoker of three things.

What three things does drink especially provoke?

Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep and urine.

It was an unruly night.

Where we lay, our chimneys are blown down.

And as they say, the lamentings heard in the air,

strange screams of death.

Awake, awake, ring the alarum bell! Awake! Murder, treason, awake!

Let's away. Our tears are not yet brewed.

Nor our strong sorrow upon the foot of motion.

And when we have our naked frailties hid,

that suffer in exposure, let us meet.

In the great hand of God I...stand.

And thence against the undivulged pretence I fight,

of treason's malice.

-And so do I.

-So do all.

Let's briefly put on manly readiness and meet i' the hall together.

Well contented.

I to England.

To Ireland, I.

And the separated fortune shall do us both the safer.

APPLAUSE

SHE SCREAMS

They've pulled it off it. It's a great a success,

with just one small moment of anxiety for David.

'Shaneka almost forgot her entrance.

'I was kind of heart in my mouth at that moment,

'when she was a little bit late, but it was just superb.'

And I just feel really proud, actually.

Quite emotional, because of the fact that they managed to do it.

It's just fantastic that they got the chance to do it.

And proud he should be.

-From the stuttering first read-through...

-We...to our chamber.

..to the forgotten lines...

And...

..and the hidden talent, these inner-city kids have mastered Shakespeare

and strutted their stuff in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Who could refrain that had a heart to love?

-That's it, then.

-No!

-It's been a real pleasure. I've really enjoyed it.

I'm going to start...

'I'm really happy that I picked this, because I would have regretted it,'

really, big-time.

We had a really great time in London, and today was a great time as well.

I actually thought that I would end up shaking or saying the wrong line,

but I'm actually quite proud of myself.

-Oh, my God, we rocked on stage. Totally rocked it.

-It was a privilege, yeah.

It's been... I think one of the best week's ever.

Do the school proud.

-Harewood, on three.

-One, two, three. ALL:

-Harewood!

'I didn't really think I was going to get this attached to them.'

I think I see a lot of myself...in them.

It's been fantastic, it's really been fantastic.

It reminds you of where you're from. It reminds you how far you've gone.

I've really enjoyed it. Really, really enjoyed it.

It's great.

Really great. Good fun.

How am I getting home?!

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