STRATFORD is gearing up to celebrate the 459th birthday of its most famous son.
The Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations will transform the town into a centre of pomp and pageatry once again as the packed-programme of events for this weekend (Saturday April 22 and Sunday April 23) is revealed.
Crowds are set to line the streets for the annual birthday parade on Saturday morning featuring dignitaries from around the world and closer to home, school children, ‘Mr Shakespeare’ and a plethora of local organisations.
The VIP procession will parade to Bridge Street from 10.30am for the unfurling of the flags at around 11am.
The procession will then proceed to Holy Trinity Church in Old Town via High Street, Chapel Street and Church Street, where flowers will be placed on Shakespeare’s grave at 11.40am.
The official Shakespeare Birthday Luncheon will be held in the Theatre Gardens from 12 noon. This is a ticketed event.
On Sunday (April 23) the celebrations continue with the arrival of Mr Shakespeare at the Town Hall at 10.30am to ceremoniously offers the Quill to the King Edward VI Captain of School.
A procession will then see the Quill taken to Holy Trinity Church where The Shakespeare Service is set to take place from 11.15am.
The Quill will be received and placed in the hand of Shakespeare’s effigy above his grave. The service includes the Shakespeare Sermon and performance of verse and music from members of the current RSC ensemble.
For more information visit https://www.shakespearescelebrations.com/whats-on/shakespeares-birthday-celebration-parade/
