Winning Stage Design
Six undergraduates from The Northern School of Art stepped into the spotlight on May 8th, 2025, as they presented their stage designs for Shakespeare in Love - The Castle Players’ upcoming summer production. Held at Northern Stage in Newcastle, the event marked the final leg of a competition launched last November to find the perfect set concept for the open-air tour.
After a tough deliberation, the £500 prize was shared between Bethany Nutley, a third-year student from Brighton, and Emily Harrington, a second year from Cambridgeshire. Judges praised their vivid visualisations and inventive take on Elizabethan England.
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Senior Lecturer Tony Shaw praised the experience as invaluable for the students. “They got so much out of it,” he said. “Live projects like this are a great stepping stone into the industry.” With the winning designs selected, work has already begun to bring them to life.
Professional stage designer Simon Pell—also a founding member of The Castle Players—is leading hands-on workshops to translate the students’ vision from concept to reality. The set will shift through multiple iconic locations, from Queen Elizabeth I’s palace to Shakespeare’s own Rose Theatre.
One of the winning designs
Bethany and Emily’s role doesn’t end with the designs. They, along with other students, may also assist in building and painting the set. “Just give us the time and place—we’ll be there,” Shaw said
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Tickets are now on sale for Shakespeare in Love >>>
