Bluecoat Wollaton Academy students, staff and alumni took to the international stage this summer, performing an original work, My Second Best Bed, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017.

The play explored Shakespeare’s life using Shakespeare’s words, detailing the story of William & Anne Shakespeare, who are re-imagined and reborn through the narrative. It uses language from the 38 extant plays penned by the Bard, as well as incorporating several of his sonnets and fragments of his extended poetry, to explore notions of conflict between the duality of artist and lover.

 My Second Best Bed is an original take on some of the most famous and profound words and stories ever created. A review on the BBC website gave the show a four star review, observing the show as “an intense and sometimes dark retelling … this talented young cast portrays the tension between the celebrated playwright and his family and wife … comedy and tragedy intertwine with fast paced drama.”