2016 will be a big year in Stratford-on-Avon, as the town marks the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s passing.
2015 itself was a relatively exciting years for fans of the bard, as DruidShakespeare took the History Plays on tour. In another Irish connection, Michael Fassbender played Macbeth in the eponymous film of the so-called 'Scottish play.'
Paul Edmondson of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust underlines the importance of Stratford-on-Avon in Shakespeare’s life, as reported in today’s Guardian.
“People have seen Shakespeare as a Dick Whittington figure, who turns his back on Stratford and his family, goes to London to earn his fortune and only comes back to die, (but Stratford is) where he bought land and property, where he kept his library, where he lived and read and thought."
Edmondson declared that they were “ going to spend the year re-emphasising the importance of Shakespeare, the man of Stratford.” Shakespeare was born in the Warwickshire market town in 1564.
Shakespeare is the most famous and the most performed playwright in the world, and his anniversary will be universally celebrated. Hundreds of lectures, recitals, international academic conferences, films, concerts, operas and exhibitions will commemorate the Bard of Avon.
Macbeth is about to open in Singapore, while Romeo and Juliet comes to Brussels. Shakespeare’s Globe theatre is completing the first world tour in the history of theatre.
The Globe has taken its production of Hamlet to almost every country in the world, bar North Korea. The much-acclaimed production will be back in London for the anniversary weekend of 23-24 April. Also featuring that weekend is a 37-screen pop-up cinema, along the South Bank, with screens showcasing each of Shakespeare’s plays.
