Monthly Archives: December 2017

Shakespeare and Jane Austen

Before 2017 comes to an end, it’s appropriate to mark it as the two-hundredth anniversary of the death of literary giant and Shakespeare-lover Jane Austen. She died, aged only 41, in 1817, in Winchester. Her admiration of Shakespeare is well-known … Continue reading

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Preserving Macbeth’s Birnam Wood

  I’ve only just caught up with the story of the real Birnam Wood. Birnam Wood in Scotland dates back to medieval times, but now just two trees survive: the Birnam Oak, which is thought to date back around 500 … Continue reading

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Bright angels: Shakespeare and medieval wall paintings

Angels have been part of the Christmas story ever since it was told in St Luke’s Gospel where the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary at the Annunciation, and where angels appeared to the shepherds to tell them of the birth … Continue reading

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International Migrants Day: Ira Aldridge and theatre

18 December is International Migrants Day, when the courage and contribution of migrants and refugees around the world is especially celebrated. In the play Sir Thomas More, Shakespeare wrote persuasively about the plight of people fleeing their own countries: he … Continue reading

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Mark Carey’s Into the Breach: a Shakespearean one-man show

People who are best known as actors often have many strings to their bows. David Garrick was a talented writer and today Antony Sher has become a distinguished artist and writer of fiction. Shakespeare himself began his life in the … Continue reading

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Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021

There have been great celebrations since Coventry was been named as the 2021 UK City of Culture. It was an unexpected winner, most people’s view of the city being based on the confusing road network and its modern housing and … Continue reading

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