Category Archives: Legacy

Shakespeare and Black History Month 2020

October is Black History Month, and this year, 2020, the Black Lives Matter movement has raised awareness of issues relating to race in both the UK and USA.  Although it was founded in 2013 Black Lives Matter protests began in … Continue reading

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The Shakespeare Club of Stratford-upon-Avon goes virtual

The second week in October is when Stratford-upon-Avon’s Shakespeare Club normally begins its season, when up to a hundred members meet in the Music Room at Mason Croft, Marie Corelli’s house and now the home of the Shakespeare Institute for … Continue reading

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Charles Dibdin and the music for Garrick’s Jubilee

Early in the morning of 6 September 1769 the Shakespeare Jubilee began with cannon fire, bell-ringing and, charmingly, a group of musicians walking the streets of Stratford-upon-Avon singing The Morning Address, with words by David Garrick and music by Charles … Continue reading

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Sally Jacobs and A Midsummer Night’s Dream after 50 years

When you think of the Peter Brook production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, what springs to mind? Of course, an image of the famous white box set, perhaps with actors swinging on trapezes, Titania’s bower of blood-red feather boas, or … Continue reading

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Unfreezing the statue: rescuing the arts

It is always said that “The show must go on”. But since 16 March 2020 when theatres and other cultural venues closed, shows have not gone on. And while shops and pubs are now able to open again, live performances … Continue reading

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Getting creative. Did Shakespeare write King Lear in lockdown?

When lockdown was first imposed, in March 2020, it was pointed out that Shakespeare had written King Lear while under lockdown himself during a period when the theatres were closed because of plague, in 1605-6. James Shapiro discusses this as … Continue reading

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Happy 90th birthday, Sir Stanley Wells!

21 May 2020 is the 90th birthday of Sir Stanley Wells, without a doubt the greatest living Shakespearean scholar. There can be few people who have not encountered his work, as a writer, lecturer, teacher, editor or mentor. I wrote … Continue reading

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#SaluteToStratford: Shakespeare and Welcombe

As their contribution to Shakespeare’s Birthday this year, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has created #SaluteToStratford, where people can share what makes Stratford special to them. Most people have just put up a photo and note about a favourite place, but … Continue reading

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Shakespeare’s Birthday in lockdown, 2020

The nearest Saturday to Shakespeare’s Birthday has for several decades been the day on which the town of Stratford-upon-Avon holds its biggest celebrations of the year. Birthday Celebrations have been held in some for or another for around two hundred … Continue reading

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Celebrating Shakespeare’s Birthday, 2020

So how are you going to be celebrating Shakespeare’s birthday in 2020? With everybody in lockdown and all actual events cancelled, it’s tempting to forget the whole thing. But here in Stratford-upon-Avon people are determined to mark the day virtually. … Continue reading

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