The Betty Haigh Shakespeare Prize
Competition details
Shakespeare study at both post-16 and degree level often involves paying close attention to screen productions and this year’s Betty Haigh Shakespeare Prize encourages just such a performance approach.
2019 Essay Requirements
The competition for has two options:
Option 1
Write a close comparative analysis of between 1200 and 1500 words, focussing on one scene from a Shakespeare tragedy and the equivalent scene in of these named film or television versions:
Hamlet (dir. Michael Almereyda, 2000)
Othello (dir. Oliver Parker, 1995)
King Lear (dir. David Eyre, 2018)
Before submitting your piece, please ensure that:
- It is in the form of a Word Document, headed with your name and school
- It is sent as hard copy, accompanied by a coversheet (68kb) signed by your teacher
- It focuses on one sequence only from one of the films named above
- It specifies timings for the chosen sequence
- It is written entirely in your own words
- It references any quotations from secondary sources (e.g. critics / reviewers)
- It provides act and scene references for quotations from the Shakespeare text
- It is no more than 1500 words (please write the word count at the foot of your work)
Option 2
Write a review of between 1000 and 1200 words, crafted with a sixth-form reader in mind, exploring in what ways a Shakespeare film adaptation of your choice throws interpretive light on the source play. The chosen film must have a screenplay which was originally written in English.
Before submitting your piece, please ensure that:
- It is in the form of a Word Document, headed with your name and school
- It is sent as hard copy, accompanied by a coversheet (68kb) signed by your teacher
- It focuses on one film adaptation of your choice
- It gives details of the title of your chosen film, as well as its director and release date
- It is written entirely in your own words
- It references any quotations from secondary sources (e.g. critics / reviewers)
- It provides act and scene references for quotations from the Shakespeare text
- It is no more than 1200 words (please write the word count at the foot of your work)
What the judges are looking for:
- Original, creative thinking
- A clear, straightforward writing style
- A clear structure, which enables the reader to follow the main ideas easily.
Entries should be sent to:
Betty Haigh Shakespeare Prize Competition,
The English Association,
University of Leicester,
Leicester,
LE1 7RH.
Closing date for entries: 1st September 2019.
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.
