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Making Shakespeare simple — with coffee in hand and the world outside the window.
My Latest Posts
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- Lady Macbeth: Villain or Misunderstood?
Is Lady Macbeth really the “fiend-like queen” we remember? Explore gender, grief, motherhood, ambition and performance to discover a far more complicated woman behind one of Shakespeare’s most notorious characters. - Shakespeare’s 5 Most Underrated Plays (And Why They Feel Strangely Modern)
Discover five of Shakespeare’s most underrated plays, including Coriolanus, Timon of Athens and Troilus and Cressida. Why these forgotten works feel surprisingly relevant today. - Why Mind Maps Might Be the Smartest Revision Tool You’re Not Using
Free Macbeth mind maps, revision tips and visual learning strategies designed to make GCSE English Literature feel calmer, clearer and more manageable ☕️ - What Is Shakespeare Week (And Why It’s Worth Celebrating in Every Classroom)
Free Shakespeare Week classroom activities for KS3 and KS4, including a villain writing lesson, tutor time quiz, insult generator and downloadable resource pack. - Hag-Seed – A Tempest Reimagined
A Coffee, Campfires & Shakespeare Review Every now and then a Shakespeare adaptation comes along that feels both playful and profound at the same time. Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood —… Read more: Hag-Seed – A Tempest Reimagined - Shakespeare Ambassadors: Student Leadership in ActionSomething rather special has happened. My Shakespeare Ambassadors were featured in the latest 2024/25 RSC Associate Schools Programme Impact Report from the Royal Shakespeare Company. If I’m honest, I hesitated… Read more: Shakespeare Ambassadors: Student Leadership in Action
- Love, Legends & Shakespeare: The Story Behind Valentine’s Day
From Ancient Rome to enchanted forests and tragic courts, explore how Valentine’s Day evolved through legend, poetry and Shakespearean love. - Hamnet – film reflection
A quiet, emotive review of the Hamnet film adaptation, exploring grief, stillness, performance, and the spaces between — from Coffee, Campfires & Shakespeare. - These Violent Delights – Chloe Gong
A thoughtful review of These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong, a dark Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, rich with politics, violence, and power. - Macbeth Motifs
Campfire Revision Macbeth Motif Postcard Set Welcome to the next instalment of Campfire Revision — a set of beautifully rustic, student-friendly postcard flashcards designed to make Macbeth’s key motifs simple,… Read more: Macbeth Motifs
Why I Called This Blog Coffee, Campfires & Shakespeare
Every blog needs a name, and I knew I didn’t want something stiff or academic. Shakespeare is serious business, yes — but he’s also witty, playful, and deeply human. I wanted a name that captured both sides of my life: my love of teaching Shakespeare, and my love of adventure.
Coffee
For me, coffee has always been the teacher’s fuel. Lesson planning at 6am? Coffee. Marking essays at midnight? Coffee. Tutoring online in a French café while my camper van is parked by the sea? Definitely coffee.
Coffee represents the energy, the routine, and the comfort that runs through the teaching life — no matter where in the world I am.
Campfires
A campfire is about warmth, stories, and connection. Travelling in my camper van means I get to end my days under the stars, often with a fire flickering outside. To me, a campfire is where stories are told — and what is Shakespeare if not the greatest storyteller?
Campfires also remind me of freedom: the freedom to take my teaching with me, to work from anywhere, and to share literature beyond the classroom walls.
Shakespeare
And, of course, Shakespeare. He’s at the heart of what I do. I hold an advanced certificate in teaching Shakespeare, and I’ve spent years helping students and teachers unlock his plays through rehearsal room pedagogy.
But here’s the thing: Shakespeare isn’t dusty or dull. His plays are full of ambition, jealousy, revenge, laughter, love, and loss — everything that makes us human. And when we approach him with creativity and confidence, Shakespeare comes alive for students in ways that stick with them far beyond exams.
What This Blog Is About
So Coffee, Campfires & Shakespeare is my way of blending it all together:
Practical revision hacks and resources for students. Creative lesson ideas and strategies for teachers. A glimpse into life on the road — teaching, marking, and writing wherever the van takes me.
It’s a blog for anyone who believes Shakespeare is still relevant, still exciting, and still worth exploring — whether you’re sitting in a classroom, revising at home, or reading a sonnet by the light of a campfire.
So grab your coffee, pull up a chair by the fire, and let’s make Shakespeare simple — and maybe even joyful — together.
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Welcome to Coffee, Campfires & Shakespeare.
A blog for students, teachers, and Shakespeare lovers…
Download your FREE Macbeth Quotes PDF
Student Tips
Practical revision hacks, essay strategies, and bite-sized Shakespeare guidance to help students feel confident in English exams.
Teacher CPD
Creative, classroom-ready strategies and professional reflections for English teachers who want to make Shakespeare accessible, engaging, and joyful.
Rehearsal Room Pedagogy
Exploring how rehearsal room practices can transform Shakespeare teaching — from status games to freeze frames — bringing the plays alive in any classroom.
The Plays
Explore Shakespeare’s plays with resources, analysis, and revision ideas for students and teachers.
Van Life & Coffee
A behind-the-scenes look at life on the road as a travelling teacher and blogger — where lesson planning, coffee breaks, and campfires meet Shakespeare.