“Your work is the most sustained attempt to re-imagine what we think boy companies could do – and it will really rewrite the academic theatre history books.”
Emma Smith Professor of Shakespeare Studies, University of Oxford
Since 2005 Edward’s Boys (of King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon, a state grammar school, also known as K.E.S. and “Shakespeare’s School”) have been performing rarely-seen plays from the repertoire of the early modern boys’ companies.
Perry Mills was, until July 2023, Deputy Headmaster at King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon (generally known as “Shakespeare’s School”). For most of his career he has been a Head of English and Drama, and is a very experienced leader of workshops for teachers and students on a variety of related topics.
Edward’s Boys are proud to be part of King Edward VI School, a state school which tries to offer extra-curricular opportunities that are not only comparable to, but often surpass, those that are available in the independent sector. Unfortunately, we do not receive funding for these activities. The company survives primarily on ticket sales.
We have made the decision to make our film archive available online free of charge for the simple reason that we believe passionately in education. If you take advantage of this unique opportunity, please consider supporting the company’s work by making a donation via this website. Thank you, in advance.
Perry Mills
(On behalf of Edward’s Boys)
Edward’s Boys must be the bravest company in the world of early modern theatre. They fearlessly take on dramatists who have been ignored by other theatre companies, demonstrating how much early modern creativity and excitement we all overlook. Their work is a peculiar fusion of scholarly breakthrough and theatrical joy: miss them if you dare!
Dr Andy KessonUniversity of Roehampton
Those who were privileged to see the little eyases of KES playing The Dutch Courtesan will really understand what Shakespeare was talking about: the common stagers in the Courtyard behind the new science block have good cause to be rattled.
Professor Jonathan BateUniversity Oxford
I love the Edward’s Boys for their willingness to take leave of reality and abandon themselves to the magic of the theatre. That they are young and male hardly makes a difference, for they can perform whatever is called for in terms of age, gender, class, ethnicity, even size. With great energy and skill, often musical as well as dramatic, they discover the wit, pathos, irony in even the most abstruse lines. Of course, behind their performances is the genius of Perry Mills who breathes contemporary life into these largely forgotten early modern plays, turning the many hard challenges they pose into opportunities for strikingly imaginative solutions.
Professor Margreta de Grazia
Perry Mills and his boys are fast becoming the stuff of legend. A cut above your average drama society, Edward’s Boys are currently ploughing their way through the dramatic canon of the early modern childrens’ companies… we were given a consummately professional and finely-realised production of a very rarely-performed play. It’ll be fascinating to see where the boys take us next.
Professor Peter KirwanUniversity of Nottingham
Edward’s Boys are a firm fixture on the map of the English theatrical scene—and they have also changed the map of how we think about early modern theatre (not just boys’ company plays). The boys – of all ages – are simultaneously innocent and knowing in performance, keeping city comedy teetering on the brink of send-up and making revenge tragedy able to confront its own excess.
Professor Laurie MaguireMagdalen College, Oxford