37 photographs from the Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations in Stratford 2024
THERE was a buzz around Stratford at the weekend, as the town took pride in its most famous son and celebrated what would have been William Shakespeare’s 460th birthday.
Dignitaries from across the world were brought together to mark the occasion with the traditional parade through the town centre, the unfurling of the flags, church service and the laying of wreaths.
On the streets they were joined by dozens of Stratford school children, including pupils from King Edward VI School, who were led by the band of the Air Training Corps.
This year, there was also a special place of honour at the front of the parade for the Shakespeare Club of Stratford, a group which has worked hard to preserve the Bards’ properties and promote his writing, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year.
Among the people on parade was Stratford’s mayor, Cllr Kate Rolfe, who missed out on the birthday celebrations during her first time in office – it was four years ago and the Covid pandemic was in full swing, causing large gatherings to be cancelled.
Back for a second serving, Cllr Rolfe described Saturday’s celebrations as “wonderful and just magical”.
“It was a pinch me moment on Saturday and I thought to myself ‘did I just do all that?’ Cllr Rolfe said. “It was lovely to meet the dignitaries in their national costumes.
“I felt proud to unfurl the town council flag. It was a fabulous day and the sun shone.
“Caroline Nash, the town clerk and Charles Wilson the civic officer and all the town council team did a marvellous job in making sure it all went smoothly.”
The weather was also kind over the weekend with the feeling that spring was actually here. It has since disappeared again, but it gave a very positive vibe to Saturday’s and Sunday’s events.
Elsewhere around town there were performances in front of the Birthplace in Henley Street, organised by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, while the Royal Shakespeare Company had organised for something that looked like a giant hamster wheel to roll through Stratford. This – it as called the Giant Wheel – was run by the Autin Dance Theatre and was a performance “inspired by the beauty, power and impact of people from different walks of life coming together”.
The 12-foot-tall wheel was powered by six street artists, accompanied by music and a large community cast from groups including Fred Winter Centre and Warwickshire Pride.
For those with a ticket, the Shakespeare Birthday Lunch, organised by jewellers Pragnell, took place in a marquee on the theatre gardens. It’s the event where the winner of the Pragnell Shakespeare Birthday Award is honoured – this year it was Dame Vanessa Redgrave (see pages 32-33 for a full report).
For Cllr Rolfe it meant a very busy diary over the weekend. As well as the parade and lunch, there was also a visit to the Peony Pavilion with Chinese dignitaries, the Shakespeare service at Holy Trinity Church on Sunday followed by attendance at the Shakespeare Marathon.
Asked what the birthday celebrations meant to Stratford, she added: “It’s about communities in Stratford all coming together to celebrate and bring to life the town’s history which is linked to William Shakespeare and everybody loves it.”
