Explore the magic of Shakespeare Country in 2012
With a wealth of heritage, theatre, arts, festivals and glorious gardens plus it being the year of the London Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, there is so much happening in Shakespeare Country in 2012. Experience the World Shakespeare Festival, watch the Olympic Torch Relay pass through, enjoy the Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations and experience witchcraft at Warwick Castle. Whatever you do, make 2012 the year you explore the magic of Shakespeare Country.
Olympic fever comes to Stratford-upon-Avon in 2012 when the Royal Shakespeare Company offers an exciting mix of plays, exhibitions and events as part of the World Shakespeare Festival. Produced by the RSC, the Festival runs from 23 April – November and brings leading artists from all over the world together in a UK-wide festival in the summer. In Stratford-upon-Avon productions include Meera Syal as Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothing set in India (26 July – 15 Sept), and The Comedy of Errors, The Tempest and Twelfth Night, directed by David Farr and Palestinian director, Amir Nizar Zuabi (8 March -7 Oct). Visiting productions include Romeo and Juliet in Baghdad and Two Roses for Richard III. Visitors can also enjoy a range of exhibitions, including Living Walls, which will see the walls of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre come alive with animated Shakespearean quotes.
Olympic fever is not restricted to the RSC as the Olympic Torch Relay comes through the heart of Shakespeare Country on Sunday 1 July 2012. On the way from Birmingham to Coventry the route goes through many of the towns and villages of Warwickshire: Alcester, Evesham, Wickhamford, Broadway, Chipping Campden, Newbold on Stour, Alderminster, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwick, Royal Leamington Spa and Kenilworth before stopping overnight in Coventry. The City of Coventry is an Olympic venue having been selected to be the Midlands venue for Olympic Football and hosting 12 matches. A number of the family attractions in Shakespeare Country are working together to produce a Big Ticket to enable visitors to make a short break of their visit to the City of Coventry Stadium.
At Shakespeare's Birthplace an exhibition “Stories of Shakespeare” will run from 21 April – 31 December exploring themes of home and journeys. The current exhibition “All the World’s a Stage” runs until April and features objects showing the influence of Shakespeare around the world. One of the best times to visit Stratford and the Birthplace is during the annual Birthday Celebrations. Taking place on 21/22 April (his Birthday being 23 April), the town will be filled with performance and carnival. Anne Hathaway's Cottage and gardens will feature a new lavender maze plus new events bringing to life the glorious grounds of this most romantic house. Mary Arden's Farm will sport a new event and exhibition in July to coincide with the Olympics - Muscles, Ball's and Bowls will bring to life the sports and games of Tudor times. Hall's Croft will undergo vital conservation work and visitors will be able to get the inside story on the work in progress.
Encounter Witches, Lovers and Boats at Warwick Castle in 2012. Witch watch, a new witchcraft experience revealing recent discoveries will open in early 2012. Discover how witches played a prominent role at the site from its earliest days as the fortification of Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great. 2012 is set to be momentous not least due to the Diamond Jubilee, the Olympic Torch Relay and for ‘leaplings’ born on 29 February, the Leap Year brings much-anticipated birthday celebrations. Tradition allows for women to propose to men on this date once every four years and the Castle will assist ladies in securing the answer they seek. Merlin: The Dragon Tower will mark its first birthday on St George’s Day with celebrations, dragon hunting and displays of heroism. In spring, visitors will be able to take advantage of the river for the first time with river boating. Summer 2012 will bring the first World Jousting Tournament to the historic site with a celebration of horseback heroics.
The Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival, which takes place from 22 - 28 April, is perfect for those who want to combine a visit to Stratford with a literary festival event. Past speakers have included the likes of Patricia Routledge to Celia Imrie, John Simpson, Wendy Cope, Jeffrey Archer and many more. The Stratford upon Avon River Festival takes place in Stratford on 30 June & 1 July when the banks and waterways of the Avon come alive. With a programme of events there’s something for all the family to enjoy at this unique free event. Check out water based activities, admire over 100 narrow boats, feast on global foods, be inspired by the Charity village, pick up a gift at the Craft market, participate in a workshop, or simply listen to a selection of world class bands and performers on the band stand.
The Heritage Motor Centre, home to the world's largest collection of historic British cars, boasts a number of exciting and interactive exhibitions in 2012. Ladybird Big Book of Motor Cars Exhibition runs until 15 January and features a nostalgic collection of over 120 Ladybird books and over 30 original artwork illustrations. Best of British Motoring Record Breakers runs from mid February – end August. Being the year of the Olympics, the HMC will present the best of British motoring record breakers such as some of the fastest British cars, the smallest, the most economical etc. The Centre will also be celebrating the Queens Diamond Jubilee over the official Jubilee Weekend of the 2-5 June with a display of Royal cars and the lighting of one of many of Her majesty's official Birthday Beacons on the 4 June.
Compton Verney art gallery will also host some exciting exhibitions in 2012. Gainsborough’s landscapes: Themes and variations runs from 31 March – 10 June. This is the first exhibition solely devoted to Gainsborough’s landscapes, bringing together a group of paintings and drawings from public and private collections spanning his whole career. Into the light: French and British painting from Impressionism to the early 1920s runs from 31 March –10 June. This exhibition surveys the production of paintings on both sides of the Channel during this period in the history of European art. Flight and the artistic imagination runs from 30 June – 7 October and provides an overview of artist’s responses to flight and how they have used it as a creative resource.
The Falstaff Experience Tudor World and Tutbury Castle will offer the ultimate Tudor day out in 2012 with ‘Elizabeth I to Shakespeare: On Royal Progress'. The day begins at Tutbury Castle where guests can enjoy the surroundings followed by a cream tea and history talk by Elizabeth I played by television personality, historian and owner of Tutbury Castle Lesley Smith. Guests will then go on 'progress' to the hometown of Elizabeth's favourite playwright ‘Shakespeare’. In Stratford guests can enjoy a tour of the Falstaff Experience Tudor World and watch a small Shakespeare show. The Falstaff Experience Tudor World is also hosting the 2nd annual Tudor Olympics during the summer. Visitors can take part in a free Tudor Olympic Torch Procession, Tudor Olympic Games and complete a Tudor Olympic Quiz.
Visitors to the Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry can enjoy a number of new exhibitions, free to attend. ‘George Shaw: I woz ere’ runs until 15 March. For the past 15 years, recent Turner Prize nominee Shaw has been making paintings of the housing estate in Coventry where he grew up. Using Humbrol enamels, he began making the works in a fit of nostalgia after he had left home. Over time, the paintings became a kind of ‘I woz ere’ written in retrospect. From Highfield Road to Wembley Way: Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Coventry City's FA Cup Win runs from 6 April – 1 July and celebrates one of the greatest FA Cup finals and looks at how a football team can unite a whole city using photos, film, and fan memorabilia.
The Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick will play host to ”Warwick Words" from 28 September - 7 October. This fascinating literary festival will see famous author’s talk about their new books in the wonderful surroundings of the Hospital's mediaeval Great Hall.
Hatton Farm Village has plenty of seasonal activities for all the family. On Mother Day, every child who enters the Farm can visit the Daffodil field and pick a daffodil for their Mum. Easter will feature an Easter Eggstravaganza with an Easter Garden, Egg Hunt, Easter Bunny and ‘Bunny Hunt’. Sheep shearing demonstrations will take place throughout May. During summer visitors can enjoy sports day races and the maize maze. Autumn will feature a Harvest Festival featuring ploughing, power farrowing demonstrations & horse-logging. Other key events include an apple weekend, scarecrow event and big ‘bonfire bonanza’.
The Churches Conservation Trust will host a touring exhibition at various churches and historical venues throughout Warwickshire in 2012. “And thereby hangs a tale” unravels the mystery of where Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. Whether or not it was the little church of All Saints at Billesley is unlikely ever to be proved since the evidence has long since perished. This exhibition explores the theme of historical interpretation and shows how fact and fiction, myth and legend feed into our understanding of the world today.
Hill Close Gardens in Warwick is celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee by offering free entry on 4 June with a special afternoon tea. Visitors can also enjoy two new Apple walks - a tour of the unusual apple trees on 24 August and another as part of the Heritage Weekend on 7 September. These Victorian gardens boast 70 different varieties of fruit tree and the apple trees include the Beauty of Bath, the Blenheim Orange and the Ribston Pippin.
At Hidcote Manor Gardens visitors can bring a picnic and enjoy the stunning setting for an open-air performance of one of England’s greatest classics “Pride & Prejudice” on 16 June. The garden will also host a variety of exciting and interesting sculptures from specially selected artists to creating a sculpture trail from 8 – 30 September.
Children can have plenty of fun at The National Herb Centre including planting up pots and hanging baskets ready for spring on 21 April or building secret shelters in the woods and seeing what lurks in the pond or playing Bug Detective at various dates throughout the year.
For accommodation, special offers and more information visit the official website: Shakespeare-Country.co.uk.
