Today is Shakespeare’s birthday and, after two years of restrictions due to Covid-19, the people of Stratford-upon-Avon are celebrating in fine style throughout the weekend.
The statue of Shakespeare that was gifted to Stratford by Sir David Garrick has been refurbished and is back in its niche on the wall of the Town Hall. Yesterday, Dame Judy Dench and Sir Kenneth Branagh, unveiled it and received the freedom of the town in return. This meant that they were then entitled to drive their sheep down Sheep Street, or a few symbolic sheep I suppose. The sheep were very well behaved which must have been a considerable relief.
Parish records tell us that 23rd April was the date of William Shakespeare’s birth in 1564 and the date of his death in 1616 at the age of 52.
The morning parade was back to full strength, led as tradition dictates, by the scholars of Shakespeare’s old school, King Edward VI Grammar School, Stratford-upon-Avon.
The procession snaked, as it always does, through the streets of Stratford to Holy Trinity Church where everyone lays a posy of flowers on the bard’s grave in the Chancel. Heavenly scent fills the church and the display is there for the rest of the weekend. Not recommended for hay fever sufferers!
Unfortunately, I was not able to go because I am self-isolating with an attack Covid but here’s a photo of one of my posies in the past. Traditionally it contains rosemary for remembrance and fidelity and it’s tied with Shakespeare’s colours – purple and yellow. Purple was the colour of mourning and yellow the colour of renewal.
Here are 10 lines from Macbeth that always give me goose bumps and contain at least 10 famous phrases within them.
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
