Saturday 23rd April will mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, the poet and playwright many consider to be the finest master of the English language.
A host of events are being held this weekend and throughout the year in the UK, as well as around the world. From London, Catherine Drew reports
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William Shakespeare, a playwright, actor, poet and theatre company founder had achieve modest fame and regard during his lifetime, when he authored 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems and other verses. However Since his death, Shakespeare has achieved international recognition as a genius, with his plays translated into every major language and performed more often than any other playwright.
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This excerpt from King Lear is from one of the 37 films that have been made by London's Globe theatre… Shakespeare's original theatre, which will be screening each film throughout London. Celebrations are taking place across the country and worldwide with performances, talks, films and exhibitions, and in the most modern way… Twitter has introduced a special emoji of Shakespeare.
Around a quarter of a million visitors visit Shakespeare's birth and resting place of Stratford upon Avon. Dr Paul Edmondson who heads research at Shakespeare's birthplace trust says visitors come from around the world to learn more about the playwright who was born at a difficult time for the town.
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While it is difficult to date shakespeares works the first recorded play was Richard 3rd written in the early 1590s when historical dramas, such as Henry 5th, portrayed here by the Royal Shakespeare company were very popular.
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However along with historical plays its thought the more playful comedies, the taming of the shrew, the two gentlemen of verona and a midsummer nights dream date from this period.
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Some of his best known tragedies were written in his later years, including Hamlet and Othello. .
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In the final years of his life, Shakespeare turned to romance or what has been called tragicomedy and include the Winters Tale and the tempest.
Shakespeare's work is still the subject of academic study and debate…and is taught in schools around the world, something visitors to the Globe theatre in London welcomed.
VOX.
So much has been written about shakespeare, however the man himself remains something of a mystery, he married Anne Hathaway and had three children, however many speculate that it was not a happy union and that the playwright preferred the company of fellow actors. … Greg Buzwell , curator of a major exhibition about Shakespare at the British Library says there are even varying accounts of his physical appearance in various portraits. .
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A serious outbreak of typhus in 1616 lends some merit to the theory that Shakespeare died suddenly however the exact cause will always remain a mystery. His legacy remains, with students studying, actors perforning and academics arguing over his prolific body of work to this day, while his plays have given rise to everyday expressions, cruel to be kind, neither rhyme nor reason, wild goose chase,….. which are common in everyday language, 400 years after his death.
Catherine Drew, sign off, London