Andrew Dickens: Our kids should know Shakespeare

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Apr 1, 2025 · 2m · transcript

The draft year 7-13 English curriculum proposes compulsory Shakespeare for senior secondary school students.

That’s provoked a furious debate about the relevance of Shakespeare in this day and age - Shakespeare is important, but is it essential?

Even when I was at secondary school 45 years ago, Shakespeare was not popular.

One year we were studying Hamlet. So, the school organised an afternoon matinee of the play at the Mercury Theatre.

The boys were so rowdy that a young Michael Hurst commented it was the worst audience he had ever had.

We didn’t even calm down during the sword fights.

That…