In December 2014, the six Creative Education Trust secondary schools gathered together to share perform 30-minute versions of five of William Shakespeare's most well-regarded plays.

Each school chose a focus for their plays and worked with specialist artists to help deliver the work. Some of the expertise was delivered in one-off workshops, such as voice work and text delivered by RSC artist Michael Corbidge or physical theatre with Splendid Productions and Frantic Assembly. Oliver Hymans from the Little Angel Theatre worked with The Rugeley Academies on their Ariel puppet; music technology artist Charlie Parker worked with Weavers Academy on their musical soundscape and Director Katie Lewis from the National Theatre directed Thistley Hough's Macbeth. Linking the projects together, Designer Mark Friend worked with a design team in each school who developed, created and made the props, scenery and costume elements for the plays.

Shakespeare 5x5 was created by HMDT Music for the Creative Education Trust to commemorate Shakespeare's 450th birthday. 

The schools that took part in this year's Day of Performance were Abbeyfield School, Ash Green School, Fair Oak Academy and Hagley Park Academy (as The Rugeley Academies), Thistley Hough Academy, and Weavers Academy.