When it comes to theatre many will think of entertainment as the primary goal of many shows and for the most part this is correct. But theatre has much more to offer than just this and thanks to the focus that many plays receive from the school curriculum (as part of the English Syllabus), theatre can also have an educational benefit as well. In many cases this could apply to any Shakespearean play arriving on the stage, but it can apply to others as well as many playwrights have found their work in the classroom.

But starting with Shakespeare the West End (and other London theatres) regularly features a play from the Bard or two. In 2011, for example, audiences flocked to the Wyndham’s Theatre to witness David Tennant and Catherine Tate in Much Ado About Nothing, whilst the Haymarket Theatre was also the home to The Tempest with Ralph Fiennes in a lead role. Meanwhile venues like the Old Vic Theatre also welcomed the likes of Richard III and more, making London a great place to visit stand-out plays with educational value.

But other important playwrights can also have their work staged in the capital, such as Arthur Miller (The Crucible, Broken Glass, All My Sons) or Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot). In the case of the former, The Crucible appeared at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park in 2010, Broken Glass at the Vaudeville Theatre in 2011 and All My Sons at the Apollo Theatre in 2010.

So there is a lot to find in the West End and other London theatres that will provide a great educational twist to the already-memorable trip to see a stand-out show.