Actors and directors said they were 'hooked' from a young age

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) wants pupils to explore plays actively and see performances, and teachers to introduce the work as soon as possible.

The project is backed by The Prince of Wales, Sir Ian McKellen and Judy Dench.

Updated curriculum changes for 11 to 14- year-olds last year again included the "classic canon of literature".

Shakespeare remained as an approved author for the age group alongside Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, although writers such as Joseph Conrad, Anthony Trollope and WB Yeats no longer appear on the recommended lists.

I saw a production of Macbeth when I was a very small girl. It completely hooked me on Shakespeare. That was 63 years ago Dame Judy Dench

Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners said he welcomed initiatives to engage pupils in Shakespeare's "fantastically varied and versatile" plays.

In the past year, more than 30,000 pupils have seen his plays at the Stratford-upon-Avon theatre through the company's reduced priced ticket offer of �10, an RSC spokesman said.

"Over the past fourteen months, we have consulted widely and the manifesto is based on what we have learned from the 252 schools in our Learning and Performance Network and the many inspirational teachers introducing Shakespeare to young people," Jacqui O'Hanlon from the RSC said.

"In the last year alone, over 32,000 children have benefited from our �10 school ticket offer and over 6,000 young people have taken up our �5 ticket scheme for 16-25 year olds," she added.

Actors and directors have added their support to the campaign.

Dame Judy Dench said: "I saw a production of Macbeth when I was a very small girl. It completely hooked me on Shakespeare. That was 63 years ago."