Discover Shakespeare’s England in 2015
Discover Shakespeare’s England in 2015 and enjoy a host of exciting events and activities for all the family. See a Royal Shakespeare Company performance of The Merchant of Venice, experience Horrible Histories at Warwick Castle, see new exhibitions at Compton Verney, wander around the new Museum Collections Centre at the Heritage Motor Centre or simply stroll around the stunning gardens that the area has to offer. Make 2015 the year you discover the magic of Shakespeare’s England.
The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced their summer 2015 season. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, directed by Gregory Doran, with Antony Sher as Willy Loman will run from 26 March – 2 May. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, directed by Polly Findlay will run from 14 May – 2 September and Othello by William Shakespeare, directed by Iqbal Khan, with Hugh Quarshie in the title role and Lucian Msamati as Iago will run from 4 June – 28 August.
Join Warwick Castle for a celebration of over 1,100 years and be surrounded by jaw-dropping history magic, myth and adventure. The Castle will welcome back Horrible Histories for the third year from Whitsun throughout summer. The story of the Castle from 914 to the present day will be told in the brand new Time Tower set within the Watergate tower which is due to open early in the New Year. Visitors will be taken on an interactive journey through time to discover ancient myths and spell binding tales. Mediaeval Glamping returns to the banks of the River Avon from spring plus there is year-round deluxe accommodation in the Castle’s luxurious Tower Suites.
Compton Verney will stage a number of exciting exhibitions including Canaletto: Celebrating Britain from 14 March – 7 June. This exhibition spotlights the paintings and drawings which Canaletto created between 1746 and 1755, when he chose to celebrate the latest achievements of British architecture and engineering. This is the first time that these painting have been gathered together. The Arts and Crafts House: Then and Now runs from 27 June –13 September. From the Garden to the Dining Room, the exhibition explores the Movement’s fascination with the creation of the Home and its influence today.
The Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival takes place from Saturday 25 April - Sunday 3 May and is one of the most significant literary festivals in the UK, attracting thousands of people who share one passion: a love of books, writing and reading. In 2015 the Festival will celebrate its 8th year with a packed programme of literary events, including writing workshops, debates, celebrity author events and poetry at the Stratford Artshouse.
The Stratford Butterfly Farm will be celebrating its 30th birthday in July. Set in a large tropical greenhouse, landscaped with waterfalls, ponds and tropical plants, the Farm opened in 1985. Thousands of exotic butterflies from all over the world fly within the greenhouse. The Farm enables visitors to see live insects behaving as naturally as possible in their natural habitats and is the largest and most comprehensive attraction of its type in Europe.
Nash’s House & New Place will close on 3 November 2014 to undergo a major restoration and reinterpretation project. It will open as a brand new visitor attraction in spring 2016, in time to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death on 23 April. Harvard House will be open to the public during this time and will also form part of the popular Town House ticket, along with Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Hall’s Croft.
Canal and River Tours will have a number of exciting offers on board the Jennifer May including an all new audio tour and a range of meal deals from the fleet of Baguette and Ice Cream Boats. Jennifer May is a state of the art canal and river boat, purpose built for the Stratford Canal Basin, lock and the Avon. Heated and fully covered she has unique viewing angles through the glass roof panels. The vessel is also fully equipped to board and carry wheelchairs, prams and has a fully accessible WC with baby changing facilities. Running regular trips every day she is also available to be chartered for large groups and parties.
Warwick Folk Festival will celebrate its 36th year when it returns to Warwick School from 22 – 26 July. The Festival brings together leading names from around the world for a 4-day music and dance extravaganza and has something for everyone from dedicated folk fans to music lovers with a wide range of tastes and styles including blues, rock, country and funk.
Hill Close Gardens will celebrate a Victorian Easter from 4 – 6 April in tribute to its Victorian heritage. Visitors can enjoy seasonal displays of the art of Floriography (the language of flowers), the Victorian history of Easter eggs and cards and a feature on Victorian Simnel Cake. On Midsummer Night (21 June), the Gardens will celebrate with music when visitors can hear singer Katie Leaver performing a programme of classical and operatic favourites. Lammas Day, the medieval harvest festival on 1 August will be celebrated with a special Harvest Weekend and Lammas Food Festival.
Upton House will be transforming the visitor experience in presentation, storytelling and volunteering during 2015 & 2016 to reflect how the house was used during WWII. The house, gardens, shop and restaurant will all have the WWI theme. During the war, Upton played an unusual role, which the property will tell through the Country House Bank theme - ‘When ordinary people took over an extraordinary place’. During the war the family moved out and the bank moved in. Driven by a need to protect bank staff and assets from air raids, Lord Bearsted’s family banking business, M. Samuel & Co. moved into the house. The bank was an arm of Shell, of which Lord Bearsted was the Director, and helped to fund the war effort. The Long Gallery was transformed into a typing pool and bedrooms into dormitories.
The new Museum Collection Centre (MCC) at the Heritage Motor Centre will open in late summer. The MCC will house the reserve collection of the Trust which numbers more than 100 cars, and includes many rare prototypes, ‘first and last’ vehicles and others rarely seen by the public in the 21 years since the HMC opened. The building will also house the reserve collection of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. The 3,000 sq. m building will provide space for up to 250 cars on two floors plus a new workshop and a purpose built learning space.
Ragley will host its fifth spectacular Battle Proms open air concert on Saturday 15 August. Guests can enjoy an unrivalled blend of musical talent, expert displays, spectacular pyrotechnics and a celebratory atmosphere which makes this event truly memorable.
The Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum will host a new exhibition entitled In My Craft or Sullen Art: Tessa Beaver which runs from 29 November 2014 – 22 February 2015. Tessa Beaver (1932, London) is a printmaker and painter who has worked as an artist since her graduation in 1953. For the past 44 years she has lived and worked in Leamington Spa and much of the work produced here resonates strongly of her adoptive town. The exhibition includes woodblock prints, copper and steel plate etchings, charcoal and ink drawings, pottery works and oil paintings. Admission is free of charge.
Riverside, in Stratford upon Avon will celebrate its first anniversary in March and will be performing wedding ceremonies for the first time having secured a licence for civil ceremonies. Owned by local businessman Nic Allen and managed by Amadeus, the venue has been a welcome addition for local businesses and residents and is used for private and corporate functions.
In 2015 Rugby in Warwickshire hosts a full event programme related to the World Cup and the towns historic legacy on the game. There will be a 'Festival of Rugby' across the town to welcome visitors in August and September. Scheduled activities include a fan zone, contemporary art exhibition, special tours and events at Rugby school and guided tours of the Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum.
Hanbury Hall will be representing a number of rooms in the house as part of their 18 month journey. The changes are to understand more about Thomas Vernon who built his summer home at Hanbury to escape from the hubbub of London life. The Hall is busy researching and reviewing archives and this autumn will be sharing some of the questions they are asking about how to present Hanbury in the future.
The Bell at Alderminster will launch The Bell’s Bonfire & Fireworks Extravaganza on Saturday 7 November with live music, an outside bar, fireworks, hot food and traditional Bonfire night treats such as toffee apples and roast chestnuts!
2016 commemorates 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare. See one of his shows performed in Stratford-upon-Avon by the Royal Shakespeare Company, tour his Birthplace and visit his grave at Holy Trinity Church. Shakespeare's England will host a range of new exhibitions opening in Stratford-upon-Avon as part of the celebrations of Shakespeare's legacy. These include a new immersive theatrical experience at the Royal Shakespeare Company; a reimagining of New Place and Shakespeare's School room - open for the first time at King Edward VI School. At the RSC, a brand new exhibition will open which throws a spotlight on the directors, writers, actors, designers and creative theatre makers who have shaped the RSC’s distinctive approach over the past 130 years.
For more suggestions and family friendly accommodation in Shakespeare’s England visit shakespeares-england.co.uk.
