April 23 marks the anniversary of the birth and death of Shakespeare, and this year is the 400th anniversary of his death.  This means that we are being treated to an immense variety of Shakespeare-related events: theatre, music, walks, films, poetry, talks, comedy, ….

Needless to say, there will be some big anniversary events this coming weekend, but there is also plenty to enjoy for the rest of the year.  I thought I’d pick out a few highlights to identify the wide choice of material and hopefully to tempt you into trying something, be it new or old, familiar or more unusual.

I will say now, that much of what I am listing is in England, but I have included at least a couple of international tours.  If my geography doesn’t suit you, a quick online search will find something for you.

22-24 April:  Sonnet Walk to Globe
–Choice of routes in London, ending at Globe Theatre

23 April:  Shakespeare in the City
–Variety of street performances in St Albans, England

23-24 April:  The Complete Walk
–37 specially-made 10 minute short films playing on loop along the 2.5 mile route along the Thames between Westminster and Tower Bridge, London

Until 1 May:  Richard II
–RSC at Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York

Until 6 September:  Shakespeare in Ten Acts
–British Library, London

26 Apr – 11 Jun:  Sh*t-faced Shakespeare: a Midsummer Night’s Dream
Four sober actors, plus one very drunk. After years of success in Edinburgh and other fringe theatres, Magnificent B*stard Productions come to London’s West End
–Leicester Square Theatre, London

30 April – 11 Sept:  Midsummer Night’s Dream
–Globe Theatre, London

3-7 May:  Richard II
Modern version set in Westminster. Actually debuts for 1 night in Palace of Westminster on 23rd but ticket ballot now closed
–Arcola Theatre, Dalston, London

13 May – 13 August:  Hamlet
–Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford  (and in cinema from 8 June)

17-21 May:  Midsummer Night’s Dream
–RSC and local theatre at Barbican, London

20 May:  Jacqui Dankworth
Songs from the 1964 album “Shakespeare and All That Jazz” composed by Sir John Dankworth and sung by his daughter
–Maltings Theatre, St Albans, England

20 May – 29 Oct:  Two Gentlemen of Verona
–UK and international tour, including Hamlet’s castle in Denmark

26-28 May:  As You Like It
–Roman Theatre, St Albans

Jun – Aug:  Macbeth and the Tempest
–Stamford Shakespeare at Rutland Open Air Theatre, Tolethorpe Hall, England

6-10 June:  As You Like It
–Minack Open Air Theatre, Porthcurno, Cornwall

15 Jun – 13 July:  Midsummer Night’s Dream
–Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford, England

1 July, 22 July, 26 August:  Midnight Matinees
–Choice 3 works of Shakespeare at Globe Theatre, London

9 July – 25 Sept:  Merchant of Venice
–Globe Theatre on Tour, including Liverpool, New York, Washington, Hong Kong and Beijing

11 Jul – 27 Aug:  Cambridge Shakespeare Festival
–Choice of plays, in a choice of beautiful outdoor locations in Cambridge, England

8 Nov – 21 Jan 2017:  The Tempest
–Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford

9 Dec – 18 Mar 2017:  Much Ado About Nothing
–RSC at Theatre Royal Haymarket, London

12 Dec – 18 Mar 17:  Love’s Labour’s Lost
–RSC at Theatre Royal Haymarket, London

Happy Shakespeare!

Copyright Debbie Smyth, 19 April 2016