PROGRAMME of the 2008 SHAKESPEARE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS at STRATFORD-upon-AVON

Saturday 26 April

9.00 am to 4.00 pm
Shakespeare's Flowers: an Exhibition of Calligraphy by the Oxford Scribes:
work inspired by quotations from Shakespeare, in the Shakespeare Centre. Admission free.

9.45 am
Reception (by invitation) and assembly of distinguished guests at the Town Hall
hosted by the President of the Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations, Sir Donald Sinden.

10.00 am to 10.50 am
In Henley Street:
English folk dancing by children of the Stratford area, organised by The Willows School
The Shakespeare Morris Men


10.00 am to 11.10 am
In the streets:
The Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers plays in Bridge Street
Strolling players, circus performers and musicians in costume entertain the crowds.
Shakespeare Live (groups of travelling players) moving through the streets with scenes from Shakespeare's plays.

10.40 am
Distinguished guests leave the Town Hall to be marshalled in the Great Garden of New Place, in Chapel Lane, for the procession.

10.45 am
Children in the processions assemble outside Birthplace

10.55 am
The formal procession moves from Chapel Lane via Waterside, passing the Royal Shakespeare
Theatre and banners for the Shakespearean plays in the 2008 repertoire, into Bridge Street

11.00 am
Children in procession move to Market Cross to take up position
The Scouts and Guides will march up Bridge Street to celebrate St. George’s Day and will take
their places at the flag stations.

11.15 am
Ceremony of unfurling flags together with the banners for the works in the Shakespeare canon
takes place in Bridge Street, Henley Street, High Street and Union Street. Unfurling is signalled
by a roll of drums followed by the fanfare composed by Guy Woolfenden played by the Band of
the Corps of Royal Engineers
. Immediately following the unfurling of the flags, the National Anthem is played.

11.20 am to 11.45 am
The procession then reforms behind the Band and moves off to pass through the garden of
Shakespeare’s Birthplace, then via the Visitors’ Centre where pupils from the Stratford High School
and the Girls’ Grammar School are assembled, to reform in Henley Street

The Shakespeare Morris Men entertain the crowds in Bridge Street

11.30 am to 12.30 pm
Shakespeare Live present scenes from (and about) Shakespeare in Bridge Street;
Strolling players, circus performers and musicians in costume entertain the crowds in the streets.

11.35 am approx.
When the main procession clears Bridge Street, parties of school children from Stratford
primary schools, assembled at the head of Union Street, form into a procession behind
the Evesham Celebration Reed & Brass Band, and move via High Street, Church Street and
Old Town to Holy Trinity Church where the children line the nave of the church.

11.45 am
The main procession, reforms in Henley Street, and walks the same route to Holy Trinity Church
for the laying of floral tributes on the dramatist’s grave. By tradition boys of Shakespeare’s school
(King Edward VI Grammar School) take up the lead as the main procession nears the school, and lay their floral tributes first.

11.50 pm approx.
As soon as the main procession is clear, the follow-on procession forms in Henley Street
behind the City of Coventry Corps of Drums. Groups and members of the public wishing to
participate join in behind to follow the procession route to the church and lay floral tributes.
The Shakespeare Morris Men bring up the rear of this procession.

12 noon to 3.30 pm
Reception (ticket only) followed by Luncheon in the Birthday Pavilion on Avonbank at
3.30 pm which The Pragnell Shakespeare Birthday Award, for outstanding achievement in extending
the appreciation and enjoyment of Shakespeare’s works will be presented to (name embargoed until mid-February).
The toast to The Immortal Memory of Shakespeare will be proposed by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, journalist & writer,
and the toast to The Theatre by to be announced.

1.30 pm to 4.00 pm
Strolling players, circus performers and musicians in costume entertain in the streets including
Sheep Street, Henley Street, the Great Garden of New Place, the Theatre Gardens and near
Holy Trinity Church. The Shakespeare Morris Men and many other troupes perform around
the town. It is hoped to stage all the Shakespeare Live scenes from Shakespeare's
plays near the Theatre and in Henley Street.

2.00 pm
Stratford Town Walk. For details see Thursday

2.00 pm to 3.00 pm
In Henley Street and various venues in the town: the Stratford-upon-Avon Wind Band,
Shakespeare Live and continuing and street entertainment

Birthday Evening Entertainment

7.00 pm Stratford Ghost Cruise. Board at 7pm, sail at 7.30pm. Duration 1? hours. Must book in
advance: 01789 292478 or 07855 76-377

7.15 pm Birthday performance of The Taming of the Shrew at the Courtyard Theatre.