Stage set to mark Shakespeare's life
The eyes of the world will turn to Stratford upon Avon as the birthplace of William Shakespeare marks 400 years since his death.
The historic town will be celebrating the legacy of the world's most famous playwright with a string of events on the anniversary, this Saturday, and throughout the year.
Two huge development projects have being taking place in Stratford ahead of this special year and will be opening to the public. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has been transforming New Place, the site of Shakespeare's family home in the town for the last 19 years of his adult life.
The newly-opened heritage site will allow visitors to trace the footprint of his family home in a landscape setting while there will also be rare and important artefacts relating to his life at New Place on show, many for the first time.
Meanwhile the Royal Shakespeare Company has redeveloped The Other Place which is home to its research and development hub and home to a new studio theatre. From this month, visitors can get a glimpse of the RSC's store of 30,000 costumes, open for the first time, on a Page to Stage discovery tour.
It's not just Stratford upon Avon basking in the glory of Shakespeare's playwright genius, there's a lot going on a lot closer to home here in the Black Country.
Marking 400 years since Shakespeare's death, Tipton Library are combining their celebrations with St. George's Day on Saturday as Adrian Holmes, Sandwell Town Crier, will be officially opening the event at 10.30am where there will also be a special presentation and unveiling of a new print on loan from the Royal Collection, of what is thought to be one of the only photographs of William Perry, Tipton Slasher.
Elsewhere Sandwell libraries will be encouraging people to take special Bard speech bubble selfies.
The speech bubbles will be going up in Sandwell libraries with famous Shakespeare quotes on them so people can take selfies and post them on social media with the hashtag #shakespeare16.
And if you fancy seeing some of his work in the flesh, one of the most famous books in the world will be on display just 17miles from Wolverhampton at the Library of Birmingham from Friday.
Published in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare's death, it was the first time that his plays were printed together, and the first time that over half the plays had even been published.
To find out about events taking place on the anniversary and throughout the year visit:
http://shakespeares-england.co.uk/
