The Betty Haigh Shakespeare Prize
Competition details
The competition is open to any sixth form student of English literature.
Students are asked to submit an essay of not more than 3000 words on the Shakespeare topic of their choice.
Entries should be sent to:
Betty Haigh Shakespeare Prize Competition,
The English Association,
University of Leicester,
Leicester,
LE1 7RH.
Closing date for entries: TBC
Essay Requirements
Essays may be either original or previously prepared. They should preferably be typed, with the student's name and school address clearly indicated.
Each entry should be accompanied by a certificate of authentication signed by a teacher to indicate that it is the student's original unaided work. Certificates are available from the English Association office or click on the link to download a copy Certificate of authentication (pdf 37KB).
Prize
2017 Competition
There was no winning entry in the 2017 competition but one submission was Highly Commended: Cassandra Somers-Joce of Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, York.
2016 Competition
The prize will not be awarded in 2016.
2015 Competition
The winner was Hanako Lowry of King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls. Hanako received a copy of Catherine M.S. Alexander's The Treasures of William Shakespeare: The Life, the Works, the Performances, generously donated by the Royal Shakespeare Company and Carlton Books. The winning essay will appear in the Spring or Summer 2016 issue of the Association's Newsletter.
2014 Competition
The winner was Emma Cavell of St Paul's Girls' School in London. Emma received a copy of Catherine M.S. Alexander's The Treasures of William Shakespeare: The Life, the Works, the Performances, generously donated by the Royal Shakespeare Company and Carlton Books, and the winning essay appeared in the Spring 2015 issue of the Association's Newsletter.
John Maier of King's College School, Wimbledon was Highly Commended for an excellent essay.
Previous Competition Winners
2013 Competition
The winner was Alastair Curtis of Quinton House School, Northampton. Alastair received a copy of The Norton Shakespeare International Student Edition and his winning essay appeared in the spring issue of the Association's Newsletter.
2012 Competition
The winner was Anna McCully-Stewart of Sacred Heart School, Newcastle. Anna received a copy of The Norton Shakespeare International Student Edition and her winning essay appeared in the summer issue of the Association's Newsletter.
Will Bordell (Merchant Taylors' School) and Eleanor Warr (King's School, Canterbury) were highly commended.
2011 Competition
There was no winning entry in the 2011 competition but two submissions were Highly Commended: Chris Roebuck from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield, and Tom Elliott from Shrewsbury School.
2010 Competition
The winning entrant in the 2010 competition was Catherine Brydges of Marlborough College who received a copy of William Shakespeare: Complete Works, edited by Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen. Catherine's essay was published in the Summer 2010 issue of the English Association's Newsletter.
2009 Competition
The winning entrant in the 2009 competition was Charlotte Salkind of City of London School for Girls who received a copy of The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare. Charlotte's essay was published in the Summer 2009 issue of the English Association's Newsletter.
