Holgate celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday with a trip to Stratford

The day began with a trip to Shakespeare’s grave inside Holy Trinity Church. Pupils were able to see Shakespeare’s eerie funerary monument inscription stating:

Good friend, for Jesus’ sake forebeare

To digg the dust enclosed heare;

Bleste be the man that spares thes stones,

And curst be he that moves my bones

After this, pupils visited Shakespeare’s birth place house and museum.

During the museum visit pupils were able to view an original First Folio - the first printed collection of Shakespeare’s plays - alongside other artefacts pertaining to Shakespeare’s life.

Following this pupils walked through the Shakespeare family house and out into the gardens. A staple of Shakespeare’s birthplace are the actors who recite Shakespeare on demand from any play that the spectators request.

After a successful soliloquy from Othello the actors then performed the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and finished with the Agincourt speech from Henry V.

Following a lunch break (in which the Stratford McDonald’s became another popular site) pupils took their seats in the RSC Theatre for a performance of Henry IV part I. A sequel to Shakespeare’s Richard II, the play sees the newly crowned Henry IV deal balance the threat of rebellion from Wales and Scotland alongside his son’s (the future Henry V) less than princely behaviour.

After a successful day we returned to Hucknall looking forward to Shakespeare’s 451st.