Arts Council England
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Think you don’t know Shakespeare? Think again.

From that joke which had you ‘in stitches’ to your friend with ‘a heart of gold’, most of us quote Shakespeare every day without realising. 

More than 1.5 million children in the UK will be celebrating his incredible literary legacy when Shakespeare Week returns this March.

In 2013, we invested £150,000 in the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s plans to create a nationwide festival that would make every child’s first introduction to the Bard memorable and fun.

Now in its third year, Shakespeare Week is back and bigger than ever from 14-20 March.  

“This is the year to celebrate Shakespeare,” said Jacqueline Green the head of learning and participation at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

“Through Shakespeare Week we want to offer even greater insight into the life of this most famous creative genius, and inspire young minds across the nation.”

For the first time, pupils will have the chance to explore the Bard’s childhood home from their classrooms, with a watch-a-long virtual tour that will be streamed into schools. 

Excerpts from the nation’s top three Shakespeare plays as voted for by children will also be brought to life by a troupe of actors and beamed into classrooms.

Teachers and home educators have been downloading free creative resources for lessons across the curriculum and families can join in the fun at Shakespeare-themed events at public libraries and cultural attractions. See what’s happening near you.

More than 8,000 primary schools have been part of Shakespeare Week since it launched in 2014 and last year it was named the Best Educational Initiative in the Museum and Heritage Awards.

This year more than 10,000 schools are expected to take part.

Find out more

Get your family or school involved

Follow Shakespeare Week and the Arts Council on Twitter

 

Channel website: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/

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