Even after four hundred years after his death, when he was just 52 years, William Shakespeare’s legacy is being celebrated this year all over the world. He is by far the finest poet and playwright who wrote in the English language.
In the UK, events and activities to commemorate his life and works have been held in Stratford-upon-Avon, a town in Warwickshire. This is the best place to celebrate the author’s legacy because he was born, attended school, married, raised a family and got inspired to write many of his plays and poems in this very town. He was even buried in a local church after his death.
For the purpose of celebrating Shakespeare’s legacy on April 23, 2016, a joint action committee comprising of Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council was formed. The events, which included a traditional Annual Parade across the town, combined birthday as well as commemoration in a unique manner. His birthday was celebrated over a whole week and culminated in a weekend of entertainment and festivities at several venues within the town. Many events were conducted outdoors free of charge.
Fascinating new attractions that opened up in Shakespeare’s home town include Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust’s re-imagination of New Place, his final home, and opening up of King Edwards School classroom where he started his literary pursuits. The historic Guildhall and Schoolroom were extensively renovated for the purpose as well.
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) organizes an exhibition at the Swan Theatre to celebrate the magic he created on stage and Stratford-upon-Avon’s 100 years of theatre making. Additionally, a discovery tour is on offer at The Other Place, the research/development hub that was recently reopened by RSC.
The initiative, Shakespeare’s Celebrations, was established in order to ensure that the traditional annual Birthday Celebrations, recognized all over the world, would continue in the future as well.
All literary travelers who love Shakespeare’s work as well as certain level of adventure should consider hiking the Shakespeare’s Way. This route retraces the path William Shakespeare might have followed in his journeys from his Stratford-upon-Avon home to London.
The path from his birthplace to Shakespeare’s Globe in London covers a distance of 146 miles and makes use of existing footpaths, minor roads and bridleways. It has been planned in such a way that it closely resembles the path he is most likely to have followed during his journeys between his birthplace and London during his productive years.
In fact, the route connects some of the most loved tourist spots such as London, Oxford, the Chilterns, Blenheim Palace, Stratford-upon-Avon and the Cotswold. As the route can be accessed by walking a mile or two from the Heathrow Airport, it provides a great hiking experience to travelers interested in walking eastwards into London or north-westwards into the English countryside.
Shakespeare would not have experienced any major problems during his journeys to and from the capital city of London, but to avoid the present day challenges of negotiating the urban sprawl a green corridor that runs parallel to the probable path originally taken by Shakespeare has been created. This route might have been established 200 years after the Bard’s time, but it does offer an approach that is surprisingly quiet.