The 23^rd April (St George’s Day) is Shakespeare Day, traditionally the birthday of William Shakespeare.  He was baptised in Stratford-upon-Avon three days later.

William Shakespeare wrote a great many plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Tale of Two Cities, and A Merchant of Venice.   Today, most young people will still study one or more work of Shakespeare in schools.

The 23^rd April is a good opportunity to give you an idea of the possible gift memberships you could give someone who loves culture, Shakespeare, plays, the theatre and reading.

The Royal Shakespeare Company perform plays by Shakespeare and also his contemporaries, whilst also commissioning a wide range of work from contemporary writers.  Its purpose is to make sure that Shakespeare is for everyone across the world.  It nurtures future talent, trains theatre makers, and reaches over half a million people every year through learning programmes.  It also creates projects for communities which have not previously engaged with its work.  It has a number of ways you can support its work, including giving a membership.  You can find out about visiting its Stratford upon Avon venue here.

How about a Shakespeare related experience?
There's a Guided Tour of Shakespeare’s Globe and
Afternoon Tea with a Theatrical Twist for Two
£112.00 from BuyaGift
Our exclusive code AHW2023 will give you a further 15% off!**

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is in Stratford-upon-Avon.  It cares for the world’s greatest Shakespeare heritage sites there, and also promotes the understanding and enjoyment of Shakespeare’s works, life and times.  You can visit William Shakespeare’s childhood home in Stratford-upon-Avon, where it all began, and visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the family home of Shakespeare’s wife-to-be, where Shakespeare would have visited her during the early times of their relationship.  And you can walk in Shakespeare’s footsteps at Shakespeare’s New Place, the site that was William Shakespeare's family home for 19 years. You can Become a Friend of the Trust to help support its work and enjoy exclusive benefits.

Shakespeare’s Globe is a world famous performing arts venue.  It’s also an education centre and cultural attraction and it sits on the bank of the River Thames.  Its programme of work seeks to harness “the power of performance, cultivates intellectual curiosity and excites learning to make Shakespeare accessible for all.”  It has two theatres, one indoors and one outside, and you can take a virtual tour of the Globe here.  The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse opened back in 2014 and it has plays, concerts, events and education workshops.

Back in 1623, a book with 36 of Shakespeare’s plays was finished.  It was compiled by two of his acting colleagues, and printed over the river from the Globe.  It’s the 400^th anniversary of this book – which was first known as the First Folio – and Shakespeare’s Globe is a custodian of one of the copies that has survived, thanks to a private owner.  The book is displayed in the main foyer.

Tickets for Two to Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall.
Learn about Tudor school life in the fifteenth-century building
£25.00 from BuyaGift
Our exclusive code AHW2023 will give you a further 15% off!**

Give a gift membership to Shakespeare’s Globe Members can enjoy priority booking, a Digital Member’ Room and exclusive member discounts, and the knowledge that their membership is supporting the Globe in all its work.

You can also give someone a gift experience related to Shakespeare, such as a visit to Shakespeare’s Globe and Shakespeare’s School Room. 

**The code AHW2023 is valid site wide until 31 December 2023, and it does include special offers and 2 for 1s ((some products are excluded)