Author Archives: Sylvia Morris

Looking back and forward: the Birmingham Rep at 100

I spent Saturday in Birmingham, at the Old Repertory Theatre in Station  Street, which this year celebrates its centenary. A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog about the history of Barry Jackson’s great theatre. The keynote speech was … Continue reading

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Visiting Shakespeare’s Stratford treasures

The question of how to celebrate the life and work of Shakespeare in the town of his birth is one that has caused much deliberation over the centuries. In 1847 the Birthplace, that “heart-stirring relic” was purchased for the nation … Continue reading

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Shakespeare at New Place: making the house a home

You can tell a lot, can’t you, about people from the inside of their houses, and what they choose to put there?  The TV programme Through the Keyhole is jokily based on the idea that it’s possible to deduce the … Continue reading

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Henry V, Edwards’ Boys and World War 1

This past weekend an extraordinary series of performances of Henry V has been staged in Stratford-upon-Avon, for once almost unrelated to the RSC or the SBT, the leading Shakespeare organisations in the town, but all to do with Shakespeare’s school, … Continue reading

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Celebrating Barry Jackson at the Birmingham Rep and the Shakespeare Memorial

This year the Birmingham Repertory Theatre celebrates its centenary, and over the weekend of 23 and 24 March there is to be a series of talks, discussions and an exhibition to be held at the original theatre in Station Street. … Continue reading

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Shakespeare’s Hamlet: productions for their own time

This week the actor Jonathan Slinger, who in the last 10 years has played many of Shakespeare’s leading roles including Richard III, Prospero and Macbeth, is taking on  Hamlet at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Any new production is always met … Continue reading

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Shakespeare’s silly sheep: the royal connections

This week’s TV programme Countryfile was guest edited by the Prince of Wales, giving him the opportunity to explore issues about the countryside and farming that are close to his heart. The prince is also a great lover of Shakespeare, … Continue reading

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Souvenirs of Shakespeare: “I’ll have his picture”

Whenever we visit an unusual place or special event, we buy a souvenir. We may want to show off to our friends, or just to have something to remind us of the occasion. The first proper Shakespeare souvenirs were the … Continue reading

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Relics of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre’s fire

Last year on 6 March, the anniversary of the fire that destroyed the first Shakespeare Memorial Theatre I wrote a piece about the events of the day. Most people who were living in the town at the time remembered it … Continue reading

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Seeking A Midsummer Night’s Dream in “the winds of March”

It’s the beginning of March and signs of spring are still few and far between after a long and dreary winter. What does the dedicated Shakespeare-lover need to cheer themselves up? A Midsummer Night’s Dream, of course! And of course … Continue reading

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