Yesterday was, of course, St George’s Day, but it was also Shakespeare Day.
April 23 marks the anniversaries of both the Bard’s birth and death.
William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor who is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist.
He is often called England’s national poet and his extensive works, including collaborations, consist of 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.
More than 400 years after his death, Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied.
He has certainly made his mark in Cumbria, where many have taken to the stage to perform his writing. In 2016, this included second year drama and performance students at the University of Cumbria, who put on Richard III. Samantha Rouse, pictured left, played Queen Elizabeth while Athaliah Dart was the eponymous king.
Another picture shows Danielle Eke, left, as Tressel and Hannah Wilson as Sir Richard Ratcliffe.
The above image, from the same year, is of members of Workington’s newest theatre company, The Theatre Royal Shakespeare Players. Clockwise from left are Kelly Davis, Morgan Sweeney, Geoffrey Hall, Maddy Carr, Maggie Bedford and Hannah Lewis.
To mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death in 2016, Florence Arts Centre staged an exhibition. Evie Nancollis is shown enjoying a Midsummer Night’s Dream tableau while Barbara Wright and Kate Tame from Trident textiles show off the Titania costume made by the group.
Beacon Hill Community School, in Aspatria, also marked the anniversary, with staff dressing up. Teacher Esther Gigli is pictured with pupils Leah Snell and Jerry Constable, both 12.
A Shakespeare Schools Festival brought pupils from St Begh’s Junior School to Theatre by the Lake to perform Macbeth, while pupils from St John Henry Newman RC School, in Carlisle, took part in a Shakespeare workshop at the venue.
Our final image shows an English lesson on Macbeth at the Richard Rose Morton Academy in Carlisle.
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