RSC Celebrates Shakespeare's Birthday

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is offering everyone the chance to see how much they know about Shakespeare, his plays and the work of the RSC itself. The company has devised a special online quiz, which will go live on the RSC website, www.rsc.org.uk, on Shakespeare’s birthday, Monday 23 April.

Those who take part in the internet brainteaser will have the chance to win a pair of tickets to ‘The Great Shakespeare Quiz’. This real live contest will take place in The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon at 6.15pm on Sunday 29 April, as part of the RSC’s annual Open Day.

With TV celebrity Gyles Brandreth in the quizmaster’s chair, two teams will battle it out to see who knows the Bard the best. Those pitting their wits will include Sinead Cusack, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Antony Sher, Donald Sinden, Juliet Stevenson, David Warner and Michael Wood.

As well as celebrating Shakespeare’s birthday, this year’s Open Day will also signal the end of the company’s Complete Works Festival, and mark the last day on which members of the public will have access to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST) before its temporary closure as part of the RSC’s transformation project.

Open Day activities, many of which are free, will include backstage and workshop tours, practical events for children, a special ‘Wars of the Roses’ York v Lancaster football match, and costume and make-up demonstrations.

Gyles Brandreth said: “The online quiz sounds tremendous fun, and I’ll certainly be giving it a go myself, just to make sure I’m fully prepared for my quizmaster role on the Open Day itself!”

The online quiz will go live on the RSC’s website – RSC.org.uk – on Shakespeare’s Birthday, Monday 23 April.

The RSC Open Day takes place on Sunday 29 April. Members of the public can find out more via the RSC website.

‘The Great Shakespeare Quiz’ takes place between 6.15 and 7.15pm in The Courtyard Theatre.

Tickets £10 from RSC.org.uk.