Samsung UK brought students with special needs closer to Shakespeare’s work

In another case of technology being used to enrich the lives of people with special needs or disabilities, Samsung Electronics UK and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) have joined forces to bring Shakespeare’s famous Romeo and Juliet love story to life for students with special needs at Welcombe Hills School in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Over the course of two days, more than 180 students with additional needs have participated in various multi-sensory experiences designed to explore Shakespeare’s classic love story, its characters, themes, and key scenes. The activities were enriched by gadgets including Samsung tablets, the Gear 360 camera, the Gear VR headset, and the Samsung Flip touchscreen. Through these technologies, Samsung and RSC were able to tailor the experience for students according to their needs, bringing them closer to Shakespeare’s work in creative new ways.

The Samsung Flip can be a great tool for digital painting, and students were able to participate in a digital costume design activity that took inspiration from costumes used by RSC in previous Romeo and Juliet productions. Pupils with an inclination towards music creation were also able to create text-based soundscapes using Galaxy tablets. The Gear 360 camera was used to capture moments from the play, while the Gear VR headset offered students a different, immersive perspective.

“The two days were a fantastic opportunity to bring Romeo and Juliet to life for 181 students in a way that was vivid, accessible and enjoyable for all. Staff at the school worked extremely hard to ensure that the students were engaging in activities that introduced or developed their understanding of the text, themes, characters and key scenes in the play,” said Georgia White, RSC Regional Associate Schools Manager. “The different uses of technology in each of the activities really helped to immerse the students in the play, offering experiences that could be adapted for all.”