Modern day bards are being challenged to reproduce the finest works of Shakespeare in just 280 characters as part of his birthday celebrations.

Shakespeare’s 37 plays averaged around 22,500 words per play, but now organisers of his birthday celebrations are appealing for more modern versions of his works.

Tens of thousands of people will flock to Shakespeare’s home town of Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28 and as part of the commemoration, organisers are looking for the best examples of his plays in a single tweet.

The #280ornot280 initiative aims to see all his plays reproduced with a modern twist – and the best will be showcased during the birthday weekend for the two categories, 13-17 and 18+.

The two winning entries will be featured on the Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebrations website and the 18+ category winners will receive an Afternoon Tea voucher for 2 adults and 2 children at Hathaway Tea Rooms in Stratford, and the 13-17 age group winner will receive an Explorer pass for a family of 4 which includes entry into the top Shakespeare’s England attractions in Warwickshire.

Helen Peters, Chief Executive of Shakespeare’s England who help to organise and promote the celebrations, said: “The works of Shakespeare have been studied and enjoyed for centuries and his birthday celebrations are an opportunity to look at new ways to honour his work.

“Twitter is one of the world’s most popular communication tools with millions of users across the globe so we believe that this would be a perfect way to celebrate his birthday this year.

“We are looking for creative ways to condense plays into 280 characters that best summarise each of his plays – and consideration will also be made for those who put a modern linguistic twist on his works.

 “The whole idea of #280ornot280 is for it to be fun and interactive and to get people talking about Shakespeare before, during and after this year’s birthday celebrations.

“We look forward to seeing the entries and we hope that the competition will draw people from far and wide to get involved and help to celebrate Shakespeare’s Birthday!”

Dr Anjna Chouhan, senior lecturer in Shakespeare Studies at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, added: “Since the purchase of the Birthplace in 1847, and the subsequent establishment of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, our mission has been to promote the enjoyment and understanding of Shakespeare’s life and works to people around the world.

“We’re delighted, therefore, as we prepare to celebrate his birthday in 2019, to be helping to bring Shakespeare firmly into the age of social media, and to encourage new audiences to engage with and negotiate his language and stories in exciting and relevant territory.”  

Geraldine Collinge, Director of Events and Exhibitions at the Royal Shakespeare Company, who will be putting on a host of free activities around the Birthday Celebrations, said: “The annual Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations are a wonderful opportunity for people from Stratford and across the world to explore our town’s heritage and the life of the world’s most celebrated playwright.

“Shakespeare’s plays have been reproduced and adapted in many ways over the centuries since they were first written. Taking to social media to tell his stories in 280 characters or less is a fantastic way of showing how his themes and characters still resonate.”

To submit an entry, people can either email bardbirthday@gmail.com or send it via twitter, but need to make sure to include the @Shakespearescel, by April 5, 2019.

For full terms and conditions please visit http://www.shakespearescelebrations.com/

PRESS RELEASE
February 2018 

Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebrations will be an exciting blend of old and new in 2018 as the town’s biggest annual event is set to become even bigger. Three days of fun and spectacle for both visitors and local residents include the UK’s first National Living Statue Championship taking place through the weekend and an exciting Community Literary Carnival Pageant which will bring a whole new dimension to the traditional Birthday Parade on Saturday 21^st April.  And now is the time to turn your plans into action and get involved in a great carnival experience.

Stratford-upon-Avon Town and District Councils, overseeing the festivities again this year for Shakespeare’s Celebrations, are warmly inviting locally based groups of all shapes and sizes to take part and help make the inaugural Shakespeare Birthday Literary Carnival Pageant a real success.

Cllr George Atkinson, Chairman of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said: “We are delighted to be hosting many new elements of Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebrations and look forward to seeing many of you taking part.”

“Support and involvement of everyone in our town and the surrounding area is vital to help us reach our goal of making the celebrations financially sustainable and guarantee their place in our heritage.”

“Success of our new carnival in 2018 will lay firm foundations for future years, attracting visitors to join us and enjoy what Stratford-upon-Avon has to offer.”

The Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon and the Chairman of the District Council will judge the Literary Carnival Pageants independently before they leave New Place to embark on their procession through the town. The winning entry will be announced at the end of the Birthday Ceremony to the gathered crowds.  The victors will receive a cheque from Literary Carnival Pageant sponsors, Bell Court, and a trophy which they will retain for one year.

Cllr Victoria Alcock, Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon, said: “We hope many of you will really enjoy participating in this inaugural community carnival event.  We are all on a steep learning curve to ensure every aspect of the Pageant meets or exceeds expectations, but we are confident it will be a lot of fun to be part of and to watch.”

Each group’s presentation for the walking pageant will take a literary work of fiction as its theme. There is no limit to the number of participants in each tableau, and the only stipulation is that all participants should be in costume and each and every tableau should be representative of the chosen work of fiction they set out to portray. And be suitable for a family audience!

Cllr Alcock continued: “There is still time to register your community group’s interest in joining the first Literary Carnival Pageant, but hurry, you need to apply by 16 March!  There is a nominal charge of just ten pounds to help with administration costs, but your enthusiasm and creativity is the most important requirement.  Take a look at the expression of interest form on the Shakespeare’s Celebrations website, www.shakespearescelebrations.com  for  more details.”

“Costumes are essential, and Stratford Town Trust is making grants available to support Stratford-upon-Avon town community groups wishing to take part.  Groups resident in the town may apply for up to £250 to help with the purchase of fabrics and accessories to make costumes or to hire them for the event.  Time flies, however, so you urgently need to visit the Town Trust website at www.stratfordtowntrust.co.uk or there is a link on www.shakespearescelebrations.com  for details of how to apply.  The closing date for costume grant applications is Wednesday 28 February 2018, for payment in early March.”

Tableaux inspired by characters from such luminary authors as Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Roald Dahl, AA Milne, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, JK Rowling, or the Bard himself, William Shakespeare, will follow the Birthday Parade through the town centre to Bridge Street. Passing ‘Mr Shakespeare’, he will hand each group a feather quill symbolising his literary genius being handed down to all aspiring playwrights and authors thereafter.

Once the Carnival Pageants leave the arena by parading down Bridge Street into Waterside, there will be the opportunity for those who wish to follow the Civic Parade to Holy Trinity Church to lay flowers at Shakespeare’s grave.

Right across town, there is plenty to see and entertain through the weekend, including the Living Statues ‘performing’ in Bancroft Gardens prior to judging on Sunday afternoon. For more information about the National Living Statue Championship being organised by LSD Promotions, working with Shakespeare’s Celebrations, visit www.lsdpromotions.com/statues.

CARNIVAL PARADE 2018

 

You may already have heard about the ‘new look’ Birthday Celebrations for 2018 which, once again, will be jointly organised by Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council.

We have been working in partnership with event organiser, LSD Promotions, to create some additional attractions to extend the Celebrations and make it a three-day event.   Traditional elements, such as the renowned Parade and Flag Unfurling Ceremony, will still take place on Saturday but this too comes with a memorable twist.

In response to the very positive feedback we received following the Shakespeare 400 Parade in 2016, the Councils decided that this convivial and festive approach should focus in all future Celebrations.  

It is hoped that the new initiative will see as many Stratford-on-Avon based community representatives as possible taking part in the inaugural Community Carnival Parade which will feature walking pageants, inspired by works of literature.

The stage is set in Bridge Street and ‘Mr Shakespeare’ will greet each pageant as they pass and will present them with a quill, symbolizing his literary genius being handed down to all aspiring playwrights and authors thereafter.

This Parade promises to be quite a spectacle.  There is no limit to the number of participants in each literary pageant, the only stipulation is that each and every tableau should be representative of the work of fiction they set out to portray.  The scope is endless as the pageants are not restricted to just works by William Shakespeare.

We hope to see characters from the likes of Charles Dickens, Jane Austin, Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl, A A Milne, Arthur Conan Doyle, and let us not forget J K Rowling – how easy would it be just to come dressed as Harry Potter. The list is endless and almost anything goes.  However, needless to say, all pageants must be suitable for a family audience!

The Mayor and Chairman of the District Council will judge the pageants and the winner will return to Bridge Street to receive their award and take a final victory lap, all of which will be captured on large screens with a live feed provision.

Participants in the traditional Civic Parade will then leave Bridge Street and make their way to Holy Trinity Church to lay flowers on Shakespeare’s grave.  Should they wish, those involved in the literary pageants may also join the end of the Civic Parade.  However, everyone may well choose to stay in Bancroft Gardens to marvel at the living statues, all rivalling to take first prize in the inaugural ‘National Living Statue Championship’ in celebration of Shakespeare’s Birthday.  This is set to become an annual event from 2018 and is exclusive to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Apart from the Championship, which will be judged on Sunday, there are a number of other events that are being introduced including a craft market on the Recreation Ground on Saturday and Sunday, Poet’s Corner and a carousel on Waterside, a lightshow from across the river on Saturday evening, together with a plethora of street theatre and live vocalists.  We are confident that there will be something for everyone at the Celebrations next year.

As you will appreciate there is a lot to organise, and we would be most grateful for your co-operation in advising us early on whether you, and other representatives from the organisation you represent, would like to participate in the Community Carnival Parade next year.

Please be kind enough to fill in an Expressions of Interest Form, and return this to us via post or email by 30 October, 2017.  In light of new data protection legislation, may I ask you please to specifically tick the box and sign that you give permission for your details to be held on file by Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council for the purposes of participating in future Birthday Celebrations organised by the Town and District Councils.

May I also draw your attention to the small administration charge of £10.00 which will help offset the cost of staging the Celebrations and secure your place in the Parade.  Detailed information and formal invitations will follow.

The Mayor, Victoria Alcock, and District Chairman, George Atkinson, hope they will have the pleasure of welcoming you to the Celebrations.

The huge influence of William Shakespeare around the world is clear to see when you talk to some of the proud Stratfordians joining this year’s 400^th Anniversary celebrations from across the globe. They will be in town for the ‘Stratfords of the World UK Reunion 2016’ and the highlight of their busy programme will be representing their countries at the Flag Unfurling Ceremony, as Shakespeare’s 452^nd Birthday Parade reaches its climax on 23^rd April 2016.

Councillor Tessa Bates, Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon, speaking about this year’s very special Birthday Parade organised for Shakespeare’s Celebrations says:

“The Unfurling of the Flags of Nations is at the heart of our traditional ceremonial on Shakespeare’s Birthday. We are pleased and honoured that fellow Stratfordians will be playing such an essential part in our celebrations.  We hope they enjoy the marvellous carnival and commemoration we have planned marking 400 years of Shakespeare’s great legacy to the world.”

Meeting in Stratford-upon-Avon in this very special 400^th Anniversary year is both exciting and highly appropriate, says Tim Raistrick, Chairman of Stratfords of the World UK:

“Each of our sister Stratfords expressly chose the name for their town and adopted the culture of Shakespeare to a greater or lesser extent.  They are all extremely proud of their connection with Shakespeare, as reflected not least in the renowned theatrical productions and performances of his work that take place every year in Stratfords around the world.”

“Coming to Stratford-upon-Avon and taking part in the Birthday Parade in this way is an honour in itself, but when you consider they will be missing their own celebrations back home in this very significant year, it is clear how much it means to them to join us.”

Every other year, six Stratfords from around the globe gather for a reunion and celebration of both their shared culture and unique qualities.  Stratfordians from Connecticut USA and Ontario Canada set up a ‘sister cities’ programme of cultural and social events in 1985, shortly afterwards joined by their inspirational namesake from Warwickshire, then towns from Prince Edward Island, Canada, Australia and New Zealand expanded the group in the late 1990s.

This year, from 20 – 26 April, Stratford-upon Avon will host around 140 guests for the special 400th Anniversary festivities including the Shakespeare Birthday Parade, in a week long programme of events, trips and warm Warwickshire hospitality.

Such has been the enthusiasm for the 2016 event that two receptions will be necessary to welcome everyone.  Breakfast or Afternoon Tea at the Town Hall will kick off the proceedings on Thursday 21 April.

Tim continues:

“We are looking forward to a fabulous week involving plenty of opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones. The programme includes family entertainment, a banquet, optional excursions further afield, a chance to visit Stratford-upon-Avon’s newest attractions, see a theatre performance and spend some time as regular tourists in our wonderful town.  We look forward to welcoming them, showing them what Stratford-upon-Avon and indeed the UK has to offer during their stay.  We hope they’ll be inspired to come back soon.”

For delegates arriving and local host families providing accommodation or transport, the experience is an enjoyable one which has already resulted in lifelong friendships reaching far beyond the main Stratfords of the World reunions every two years.

Rosemary Martin-Hayduk, Chair, Stratfords of the World Committee, Connecticut, USA, said:

“The significance of the Stratfords of the World program is the creation of friendships that last over time and distance, appreciation for the way of life in other countries, the joy of sharing our lives and opening our hearts and homes to other ‘Stratfordians’.

“Our common bond through Shakespeare and music brought us together initially; the program’s legacy is enduring friendships. Since first joining in 1993, I have hosted and/or been hosted by Stratfordians from Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and England. Ours is truly a global neighborhood. Not all hosting is done during large reunions; sometimes folks are just passing through our town and need lodging for a night or two. Lovely and so very Stratford!”

Wayne Whitehorn, leading the delegation from Stratford, Ontario, Canada, said:

“Shakespeare has had a profound economic and cultural effect on Stratford, Ontario for more than 60 years through the creation of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

“In 1952 our two major industries – steam train engine repairs, which employed 40% of our work-force, and furniture manufacturing were both disappearing. A young, local journalist, Tom Patterson, proposed the creation of a summer Shakespeare Festival and, with the encouragement of $125 from city council, headed to New York for advice. That led to a phone call to Irish director, Tyrone Guthrie, and Patterson’s admission that we knew nothing about theatre, was a siren call that drew Guthrie here. He would have carte blanche. Guthrie brought with him designer, Tanya Moiseiwitsch, and together they created the first thrust stage in the world after 1616.

“The 1953 season productions were ‘Richard III’, staring Alec Guinness and ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’, featuring Irene Worth; the first four seasons were performed under a tent until the permanent Festival Theatre was built on the same site in 1957.

“This season, there are four permanent theatres staging thirteen productions with the opening preview performance on April 19 and the final performance on October 29; it is now a $60 million industry.

“The Festival is the foundation of our flourishing tourism industry that draws people from all over North America and supports a host of summer cultural festivals, fine-dining restaurants and boutique retail shops.”

Tim Raistrick and his UK organising committee are keen to hear from anyone interested in being involved with activities, providing host accommodation to incoming delegates or helping with transport during this year’s Reunion in Stratford-upon-Avon.  There is lots more information at www.stratfordsoftheworlduk.com or email stratfordsoftheworlduk@gmail.com

ENDS

Press release ref: 0616

NOTES TO EDITORS

• For more information about Stratfords of the World visit stratfordsoftheworlduk.com or contact Tim Raistrick, Chair on traistrick@aol.com

 

• Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council jointly lead Shakespeare’s Celebrations, a local initiative which exists to ensure the Annual Birthday Celebrations continue for future generations. It is working with other key organisations in the town to organise a wide range of events and exhibitions in 2016, celebrating the 400 year legacy of William Shakespeare. Visit shakespearescelebrations.com

 

SOME KEY POINTS FOR 2016:

• The main Parade will take a route from the Town Hall along Sheep Street, Waterside, Bridge Street, High Street, Chapel Street, Church Street and Old Town to the Church.
• Spectators will be able to watch guests and participants join the procession at various times and points around the centre of town, such as Wood Street, Meer Street and Henley Street, and make their way after the Flag Unfurling Ceremony to join the main procession.
• The Quill and Flag Unfurling Ceremonies take place as usual in Bridge Street, with the dais positioned near the roundabout outside Barclays Bank.
• Flagpoles will be draped in black crepe and the main streets festooned in black and gold bunting, to combine the birthday and memorial themes.
• The Parade itself will comprise several ‘elements’ reflecting the various moods of the proceedings:
  • The Walk of Remembrance, as participants follow the town’s floral tribute from the Town Hall as far as Bridge Street, to the toll of a funeral bell, spectators will be encouraged to throw rosemary in their path.
  • the traditional, annual birthday ceremonies of the Handing Over of the Quill and the Flag Unfurling.
  • a unique ‘Mask Moment’ for this year’s commemoration of 400 years since Shakespeare’s death when spectators will be invited to don a Shakespeare Face Mask, commissioned especially for the 2016 Celebrations.
  • marking the Bard’s worldwide legacy in this significant year, we are delighted to have international participation in our Parade in the shape of the Jazz Band from the School of Liberal Arts at Tulane University, New Orleans, USA.  They will burst into action as the Birthday procession moves off in festival mood through the streets to the Church.

 

Media enquiries about Shakespeare’s Celebrations and the Birthday Parade to Amanda Wood at Syndicate Communications, email: amanda.wood@syndicatecomms.co.uk;          mb: 07966 283259; tel: 0333 011 8282 or visit www.shakespearescelebrations.com

For Shakespeare’s Celebrations, the local initiative tasked with organising the annual Birthday Parade, plans are coming together to make 23rd April 2016 memorable, celebrating 400 years of Shakespeare’s legacy with a unique ‘take’ on the traditional annual procession through the town.  The festivities will combine birthday and commemoration in a day full of music, colour and action.

Sarah Summers, Town Clerk and Lead Organiser of the Birthday Parade said:

“Preparations are well under way for the Parade in this significant year for Shakespeare’s legacy,  and for his home town of Stratford-upon-Avon.

“We are introducing some exciting changes to this year’s event which we are confident will bring a new flavour to the 2016 Birthday Celebration Parade but will nevertheless retain the essence of the popular ceremonies at its heart.  There will be more opportunities for people to see and take part in the proceedings.”

In a departure from convention, spectators will see parade participants gather at many places around town this year; the ‘mini-parades’ will be escorted through the streets to their flag stations in Henley Street, High Street and Bridge Street.  Following the Flag Unfurling Ceremony, the whole procession will continue as one in festival mood along High Street, Chapel Street, Church Street and Old Town to Shakespeare’s resting place.

Sarah continued: “We want the crowds lining the route to join in the ceremonial, throwing sprigs of fresh rosemary underfoot as the procession passes by in sombre mood in a walk of remembrance.  And later as the party starts we are looking for a photographic moment to savour with our specially commissioned Shakespeare masks.  We need everyone to join in!

“Follow that with a surprise entrance from our guest Jazz Band, joining our festivities all the way from New Orleans, USA and you can appreciate it’s not our usual Birthday Parade!”

All the usual participants will be there too, among them civic dignitaries, VIPs and invited guests from the worlds of literature and theatre, students of Shakespeare’s school and characters in period dress, marching bands and local schoolchildren making their way through the streets towards Holy Trinity Church.

Here is the latest brief guide to what happens when:

• BEFORE THE PARADE: from 9.30 am: Students from local schools will be handing out sprigs of fresh rosemary and commemorative Shakespeare face masks to visitors lining the route of the Birthday Parade.
• MUSTER OF GUESTS AND PARTICIPANTS from 10.15 – 11.00. Primary school children, staff and students of King Edward’s School led by the Head Boy, invited diplomats, civic dignitaries and guests of the Town and District Councils follow the route of the floral tribute to take up their positions for the main ceremonies in Bridge Street.  At the same time, several ‘mini-parades’ assemble in designated town centre streets and following the flag ceremony they join the main procession on its way to Holy Trinity Church.
• BIRTHDAY COMMEMORATION, MASK MOMENT AND A SURPRISE ENTRANCE 11.00 – 11.10 The traditional placing of the commemorative wreath is followed by the unfurling of the Big Birthday Banner and the Unfurling of Flags along Bridge Street. There is an invitation for everyone to take part in a ‘Mask Moment’ and put on their masks of William Shakespeare as the Beadle and Town Criers from neighbouring towns call for ‘Three Cheers for William Shakespeare’. Then our invited New Orleans Jazz Band bursts into action with its rendition of ‘Happy Birthday!’ as cannon streamers shower the crowds and the band plays its way around Bridge Street.
• PARADE TO HOLY TRINITY CHURCH 11.10 – 11.50 Accompanied by the ATC Band, Coventry Corps of Drums and the New Orleans Jazz Band, the procession makes its way to Holy Trinity Church where the town’s floral tribute to William Shakespeare is formally received.

Once the Procession is over there are community festivities and street entertainment taking place across town throughout the day, organised by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and others.  The annual Birthday Luncheon starts directly after the Parade and is a ticketed event.

If you are planning on driving to the Celebrations, vehicle access to the town centre is restricted between 8am and 12.30pm to accommodate the Parade and Celebrations. Details of road closures will be available in due course from Stratford-on-Avon District Council.

More details about Shakespeare’s Celebrations 2016, and especially the Birthday Parade, will be available from www.shakespearescelebrations.com in the coming months.

END

Press release ref 1602

NOTES TO EDITORS

SOME KEY POINTS FOR 2016:

• The main Parade will take a route from the Town Hall along Sheep Street, Waterside, Bridge Street, High Street, Chapel Street, Church Street and Old Town to the Church.
• Spectators will be able to watch guests and participants join the procession at various times and points around the centre of town, such as Wood Street, Meer Street and Henley Street, and make their way after the Flag Unfurling Ceremony to join the main procession.
• The Quill and Flag Unfurling Ceremonies take place as usual in Bridge Street, with the dais positioned near the roundabout outside Barclays Bank.
• Flagpoles will be draped in black crepe and the main streets festooned in black and gold bunting, to combine the birthday and memorial themes.
• The Parade itself will comprise several ‘elements’ reflecting the various moods of the proceedings:
  • The Walk of Remembrance, as participants follow the town’s floral tribute from the Town Hall as far as Bridge Street, to the toll of a funeral bell, spectators will be encouraged to throw rosemary in their path.
  • the traditional, annual birthday ceremonies of the Handing Over of the Quill and the Flag Unfurling.
  • a unique ‘Mask Moment’ for this year’s commemoration of 400 years since Shakespeare’s death when spectators will be invited to don a Shakespeare Face Mask, commissioned especially for the 2016 Celebrations.
  • marking the Bard’s worldwide legacy in this significant year, we are delighted to have international participation in our Parade in the shape of the Jazz Band from the School of Liberal Arts at Tulane University, New Orleans, USA. They will burst into action as the Birthday procession moves off in festival mood through the streets to the Church.

 

• Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council jointly lead Shakespeare’s Celebrations, a local initiative which exists to ensure the Annual Birthday Celebrations continue for future generations. It is working with other key organisations in the town to organise a wide range of events and exhibitions in 2016, celebrating the 400 year legacy of William Shakespeare. Visit shakespearescelebrations.com

• Media enquiries about Shakespeare’s Celebrations and the Birthday Parade to Amanda Wood at Syndicate Communications, email: wood@syndicatecomms.co.uk; mb: 07966 283259; tel: 0333 011 8282 or visit www.shakespearescelebrations.com

• Media enquiries about the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, please contact: Alisan Cole, PR and Public Affairs Executive, email: cole@shakespeare.org.uk; tel: 01789 207132; or visit www.shakespeare.org.uk

• Media enquiries about the Royal Shakespeare Company, please contact: Dean Asker, Press and Communications Officer, Royal Shakespere Company, email: asker@rsc.org.uk; tel: 01789 412660; mb: 0778 9937759; or visit www.rsc.org.uk

4 February 2016