Author Archives: Sylvia Morris

Shakespeare, suffrage, and Stratford-upon-Avon

This week, 8-13 March, International Women’s Week has been celebrated around the world with an examination of the achievements of women and progress towards gender equality. Amanda Vickery’s three-part television series Suffragettes Forever! has documented the history of the struggle … Continue reading

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Laying King Richard III to rest in Leicester

The remains of King Richard III will at last be reburied at Leicester Cathedral on Thursday 26 March 2015. Over 100 events and activities will begin on Friday 20 March and will continue over the weekend following the ceremony. It’s … Continue reading

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Shakespeare, culture, and a policy for the arts

Knowing the exact date in May 2015 of the next General Election has provoked discussions on topics that don’t get an airing during the usual month of campaigning before the big day. Recently, the arts has been the subject of these debates.  … Continue reading

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Looking forward to spring and the art of the garden

The British love affair with gardening is well-known, and opening on 20 March and running until 11 October is an exhibition at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace called Painting Paradise: The Art of the Garden. Building on the success of … Continue reading

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Much Ado About Nothing online

Today 2 March 2015 the RSC’s first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) begins, on the play Much Ado About Nothing. Previous courses I’ve done with Futurelearn have remained open for a few days so if you’re not already enlisted I’m … Continue reading

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Conferences 2015: Shakespeare and others

2015 may be seen as a breathing space between the major years of 2014 (450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth) and 2016 (400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death), but there are a goodly crop of academic conferences coming up this year that … Continue reading

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Alan Howard: remembering the Dream

Alan Howard, who died on 14 February 2015, came from a family of actors and writers, and following in the family tradition, became the most theatrical of actors. Many have concentrated on the partnership he developed with RSC director Terry Hands … Continue reading

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“Go ply thy needle”: embroidery in Tudor England

One of the great pleasures of the BBC series Wolf Hall, adapted from Hilary Mantel’s novels, has been to admire the costumes worn by the king and his court, from the scarlet robes of Cardinal Wolsey and the magnificence of … Continue reading

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Farewell to Alan Howard, the “great spirit” of the RSC

Tributes have been pouring in following the death on 14 February 2015 of the great Shakespearian actor Alan Howard, who did his best work at the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1966 to 1981. Although this was a golden period for … Continue reading

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Chinese Shakespeares

Thursday, 19th February is the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Goat, Sheep or Ram. The biggest celebrations outside China are held in London, which testifies to the internationalism of the English capital. The main festivities will take place over … Continue reading

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