A centre-piece parade will be the focus of the day’s events, beginning as a sombre walk of remembrance before ending on a more uplifting note assisted by the New Orleans jazz band.
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Later, the celebrations will gain the royal seal of approval with Prince Charles touring the writer’s former home and his graveside at Stratford’s Holy Trinity Church. Shakespeare is regarded by many as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist.
Stratford-up-Avon will see a birthday parade for the Bard, and a candlelit procession to his final resting place. He died when he was 52 years old, on April 23, 1616.
The “Shakespeare Live!” show, celebrating the English language’s foremost playwright, was being broadcast live on British television and beamed to cinemas across Europe at the time.
Thousands of people from around the world descended upon William Shakespeare’s hometown on Saturday (Apr 23) for a day of theatre, dancing and fireworks marking the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death.
Spectator Jane Haigh, who had travelled from Coventry with friend Janice Bobby, said she wanted to be present to mark “a wonderful legacy”.
The heir to the throne interrupted a star-studded TV gala performance featuring Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen in the Bard’s birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon.
Ms Bobby added: “The great thing about Shakespeare is he’s relevant today – he’s very quotable, and his plays can be interpreted so widely”.
“Which is pretty awesome for someone who died 400 years ago”. From The Royal Shakespeare Company show with the Duchess of Cornwall, was heard to speak from the wings, asking: “Might I have a word”.
Well known characters, from Hamlet to Cleopatra, will be making appearances across town and to end the day there will be a Shakespeare master class in the Wightman Theatre.
Benedict Cumberbatch performs as Hamlet in the play’s performance at the Barbican Centre, London previous year.
U.S. President Barack Obama made a morning visit to the playhouse in Southwark on Saturday to mark the anniversary of the famous poet.
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Over his career, Shakespeare – who started out as an actor – is thought to have penned a total of 38 plays and 154 sonnets.
