A WILLIAM Shakespeare look-a-like has been forced to bow out amid an alleged racism row.
Paul Workman, better known as ‘Mr Shakespeare’, has been regularly seen impersonating the playwright in the bard’s home town of Stratford for the past eight years, but the 74-year-old’s career took a tragic turn after Stratford Town Council received a complaint.
He was accused of making offensive remarks, which are understood to have concerned “Muslims and Jews”, in a pub in February.
His absence was noted at last month’s Shakespeare Birthday celebrations in which he usually takes a pivotal role, but despite feeling “bullied” and “victimised”, Mr Workman says he would be honoured to reprise his role.
Mr Workman, who has been a Stratford resident for 38 years, says he remains perplexed over what he said.
He explained: “We were just talking about art. I remember everything said up to a point to talking to these so-called friends and the next thing I remember being sort of marched out of the pub.
“And then the next day I went back to the pub and somebody approached me and they said I’m going to report you to the council because what you said was not appropriate and Mr Shakespeare is a high profile job.
“I was shocked and thinking no they won’t do that, and then a couple of weeks later I had a letter off the town hall saying ‘sorry you’ve done a good job Mr Workman but we’ve got to let you go’.”
In the meantime, he submitted a resignation and apologised.
Mr Workman continued: “I know a lot of people in the town and they are absolutely appalled with what’s happened to me because I am Mr Shakespeare. The feedback I’ve had over the years has been amazing and suddenly it’s just been taken away from me.
“I feel now that I’ve been bullied, that I’ve been targeted almost and I’m a victim of this situation.
“A lot of people have said to me hopefully they’ll reinstate you once this has blown over, which would be an honour. It would be nice.”
Town clerk Caroline Nash confirmed they had received a complaint regarding alleged comments made and Mr Workman had been invited to a meeting to discuss this matter.
She added: “He did not take up this offer and we then received a response resigning from his voluntary role.”
