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The Shakespeare Trail 2026

Pupils transformed the College grounds into a unique open-air celebration of Shakespeare.

On a glorious summer evening, the Cheltenham College grounds became the stage for The Shakespeare Trail, an immersive drama showcase featuring pupils from Third Form to Lower Sixth.

Rather than a traditional theatre production, audiences were invited to explore the College site, discovering nine live performances inspired by Shakespeare’s greatest plays in some of the school’s most iconic locations. From Chapel Quad and Queen’s House to The Lake, The Woods and The Prep, each setting provided a unique backdrop for the performances.

After gathering together in Chapel Quad, audience members split into colour-coded groups, following different routes around the campus. With each group experiencing the performances in a different order, every journey through the Trail was unique before everyone reunited in the Chapel for a memorable finale.

The Shakespeare Trail was a wonderful celebration of creativity, collaboration and performance, showcasing the exceptional talent of our pupils while making full use of the beautiful College grounds. Congratulations to the Drama Department and everyone involved in creating such an imaginative and unforgettable evening.

Three women in long, flowing white dresses sit on logs in a wooded area, talking and smiling together in the shade of trees. Sunlight filters through the leaves, creating a peaceful, natural setting.
A person dressed as an angel stands on a balcony decorated with colourful flowers. Pride flags hang below and in the foreground, and the building has tan stone walls and black railings.
A bride in a white dress and veil holding red flowers stands next to a groom in ornate gold robes before an altar in a church, with another man in a suit standing nearby. An audience sits facing them.
A Shakespeare Trail passport booklet from Cheltenham College rests on green grass, surrounded by small white daisy flowers.
A young man in a light blue shirt and dark blue trousers stands with his hands behind his back in front of a large, ornate black door set in a stone building.
Three young people sit and stand by a wooden outdoor bar decorated with bunting. They wear summer clothes and sunglasses, with casual, relaxed expressions. The area is sunlit and festive.
A woman speaking outdoors wears a cream cardigan and name badge, while two men sit nearby under a wooden canopy, one in a blue shirt and hat. String bunting decorates the background with greenery visible.
A group of people stands on a grassy lawn, listening to a man speaking near the steps of a white building. There are trees, benches, and nearby block of flats in the background.
A woman in a long green dress faces a young man in a white shirt and dark trousers on a garden path, surrounded by colourful flowers and greenery in front of a house.
Two women in period costumes are in an outdoor setting. One in a blue dress sits on a wooden chair looking down, while the other in a patterned dress stands, appearing to speak to her. Trees and bunting are in the background.
Two teenagers sit on a wooden bench around a tree in a park. One looks up with a thoughtful expression, whilst the other looks at them, appearing surprised. Lush green grass and trees fill the background.
Three people in black hooded cloaks stand closely together in tall grass and sunlight, with trees and greenery around them. They appear to be participating in an outdoor, possibly ceremonial or theatrical event.