What News? FOR PATRONS, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS SPRING 2018

Speak of the spring... Sonnet 53, William Shakespeare What News? FOR PATRONS, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS SPRING 2018 Welcome x Thank You For Making A Difference x Shreds & Patches Learning x Collections x Houses x Gift Shop x International What s On x Friends Feedback x Creative Muse

Contents AT A GLANCE Thank You For Making A Difference 3 Shreds & Patches 4 5 Learning 6 7 Collections 8 Houses 9 International 10 11 What s On 12 13 Gift Shop 14 Friends Feedback 15 Creative Muse 16 Welcome It is my great pleasure to introduce our latest Newsletter. On 1 March, we welcome our new CEO, Tim Cooke, whose wealth of leadership experience and strong vision for the future will be a great benefit to the Trust. During this time of anticipation and excitement for the future, we also recognise and celebrate what a strong position we have already achieved together. For that, I have you, our generous supporters, to thank for all you ve done to help us get here, and all that you continue to do to ensure that we achieve our mission. As we move into Spring, there are plenty of exciting events and initiatives taking place. With events like Shakespeare Week and the Birthday Celebration right around the corner, we re anticipating another fulfilling, successful year. I look forward to sharing these experiences with you, and I hope that you will continue to visit and support the priceless places that it is our privilege to look after. On behalf of myself and the entire Birthplace Trust team, I wish you a wonderful Spring, and hope to see you all soon. With my best regards Peter Kyle, OBE Chairman 2

Thank You For Making A Difference Equal Access for All Upon this warrant you shall have access The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act 3 Scene 2 There are two million people in the UK who are partially sighted with 20% of people over 75 having a visual impairment. These individuals are much less likely to visit cultural institutions and this is something we want to address at all our properties. As part of our Access Project we have worked closely with a company called VocalEyes who specialise in creating audio descriptions and provide opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to experience arts and heritage organisations across the UK. Audio description is a means of conveying, by the use of vivid, succinct and accurate language, the visual aspects of an artwork or artefact that a blind or partially sighted person would otherwise miss. Through this partnership we have created audio files with content such as introductions to the Town Houses and descriptions of the top 30 items in our collection. Creating a script about these items takes specialist knowledge when describing them to audiences who are unable to touch or see the object. One example of this is the Communion Box in our collection which dates from the 1500s. VocalEyes have brought it to life through their descriptive language where the audience can visualise its fragile nature: The outside of the box is decorated with tooled leather. Dark brown, almost black in places, the leather has worn thin with time and use and the decoration is sometimes indistinct. In places it s crumbled away entirely exposing the wood underneath. The box has a thin lid which is hinged at the back Each side, small horizontal slits in the leather suggest that a strap passed through them and under the box so that it could be carried. We will be providing the Town Houses with MP3 players and headphones so audiences can listen to some wondrous descriptions of some of our items, and start to visualise what life would have been like during Shakespeare s lifetime. As part of the project we have incorporated sound posts at Shakespeare s New Place and Anne Hathaway s Cottage which will be available for visitors over the next couple of months. Also look out for a special audio tour of the sculpture garden at the cottage very soon! Communion Box from the SBT collection c.1500 Thank you to all our supporters who have helped to make this work possible especially the DCMS / Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund which generously awarded a grant of 24,000 towards this project. Wonderful News! The historic Visitors Book is going to be conserved thanks to the many Friends and supporters who generously responded to the appeal included in our Autumn Newsletter. With your help we have raised the 1000 needed and we are now in the process of commissioning a conservator for this work and will report back on progress in a future issue. 1812 Visitors Book If you would like to donate, visit us at shakespeare.org.uk/support-us or call us at 01789 339804 Thank you for all the help you give. 3

Shreds & Patches Overseas visitors of the feathered variety Dave Lawley is Senior Gardener at SBT and is a keen birder. He has seen birds in the gardens that are on the RSPB red list as a globally threatened species. Fieldfares, part of the Thrush family are back for their winter holidays. At present the flock is still quite small with approximate numbers reaching 20 to 30, in past years the flock has reached 200 plus. They can be seen in Anne Hathaway s Cottage orchards eating the fallen apples with Redwings in amongst them. Both birds are winter visitors and travel from as far as southern Siberia, but mostly from Scandinavia. Once the weather turns really cold the flock will increase and they will aggressively defend their food source in the orchards. Last year the Fieldfares disappeared after the apple harvest, so if you wonder why we leave some of the apples on the ground to rot, it is to encourage these lovely birds to visit our gardens. Let us know if you too have enjoyed seeing any unusual birds at the Shakespeare Houses! Woolly works at Hall s Croft Some essential conservation work has started at Hall s Croft to make the building more watertight and secure using our very own home grown filler. We are repairing the windows to reduce gaps, and missing putty is being replaced where there are gaps between leaded lights and timber sub-frames to stop movement in driving pins and pintles. The many gaps are being packed with wool between the timber frame and panels, shakes (splits in the timber beams) and plugs (where the oak pegs go in to hold the beams in place). Mary Arden s Farm has kindly donated a quantity of fleece from our rare breed Cotswold, Portland and Norfolk sheep, naturally covered with a good layer of lanolin for them to use. As well as plugging gaps in the building and helping keep the cold out, the lanolin also acts as a waterproof layer, so instead of driving into gaps making the timbers damp, rain will be repelled and be diverted away from the building. How perfect that the wool from the sheep at Mary Arden s Farm is being put to such good use at another Shakespeare House. 4 Fieldfare. Image taken by Ian Kirk Irreplaceable: a history of England in 100 places We ve been working closely with Historic England on their 100 Places campaign to recognise and bring to life England s historic landmarks. Following a public vote Shakespeare s Birthplace has made it into the Top Ten Music & Literature category. You can listen to the podcast which talks about all of the places that were in the final ten, including an interview with our own Anjna Chouhan, Lecturer in Shakespeare Studies. Listen on bit.ly/100placespodcast or search for 100 Places on your podcast player of choice. Packing wool into the gaps at Hall's Croft

Celebrating Volunteer Week Happy volunteers! We have more than 150 volunteers donating their time and expertise. Every year we survey our volunteers to gain a better idea of how they are finding their time with us here is what we found. I learn something new nearly every week from extremely knowledgeable staff. 97% said that they love volunteering for us. 93% said that they feel proud to volunteer for the Trust. 90% said they d recommend becoming a volunteer with the Trust to others. Learning about conservation methods has been the most enjoyable as it was great to learn about something that interests me. A very stimulating initiative! During 2017, volunteers gave over 24,000 hours of their time to the Trust s activities. Our volunteers range from 15 to 87 years old and work in a range of activities: in gardens, the reading room, meeting visitors in the Houses, helping schools, and behind the scenes with conservation work. We have many opportunities for volunteering across the whole of the SBT. It is a great opportunity for all you could learn a new skill and meet new people, and we gain from your experience. Sounds like a perfect fit? Contact us at shakespeare.org.uk/volunteer or call 01789 204016. Shakespeare for all! We are delighted to be working with Warwickshire Libraries on a new initiative Shakespeare For All. Starting the first Saturday of March, we ll be meeting once a month at Stratford-upon-Avon Public Library for a reading of one of Shakespeare s plays. It s free, and everyone is welcome to come and read or simply listen. Copies of the play will be provided, and we intend to read all of Shakespeare s plays in the order they were written, starting with The Two Gentlemen of Verona. At a pace of once a month, it will take just over three years! Join our experts, starting on Saturday 3 March at the Stratford-upon-Avon Public Library from 11.00am to around 1.30pm. We hope to see you there! Shakespeare Week Sharing Shakespeare Shakespeare Week is the annual national celebration of Shakespeare in primary schools across the UK. Because of this programme over five million children have had the opportunity to work creatively and have fun first experiences with Shakespeare. We re really excited about this year s Poetry and Storytelling theme which includes a special poetry performance to over 12,000 schools, the Big Shakespeare Wild Book Hunt in 154 communities across the country, storytelling in over 1000 libraries, on-line interactive challenges and a new Green Tree Schools Award Challenge for children to explore the story of A Midsummer Night s Dream. Read more about the launch of Shakespeare Week 2018 on page 6. Shakespeare Week runs from 12 18 March. 5

Learning Will s Wonderful Words: The Big Shakespeare Poetry Performance The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust was recently privileged to present the Will s Wonderful Words event, hosted by Mapledene Primary School in Birmingham to launch this year s Shakespeare Week. The theme this year is Poetry and Storytelling, so the event was a celebration of poetry that had students clapping, laughing and dancing along as they learned about Shakespeare and were inspired by his words. Joining in the fun were several well-known performers and poets who helped the students experience Shakespeare and his words in a new, exciting way. Compering the event was Baroness Floella Benjamin, distinguished actress and presenter of many children s television programmes. She naturally connected with her young audience and her enthusiasm was contagious. She introduced Ben Crystal and Will Sutton, who performed a sketch that contrasted the way our current Queen (Elizabeth II) speaks, with how Queen Elizabeth 1 (Shakespeare s Queen) would have spoken. The children found the difference in speech, and the performance itself, totally hilarious. The Sonnet Man, who raps Shakespeare s sonnets to help make them accessible for modern audiences, performed a rap with a group of students he dubbed his sonneteers. This new take on sonnets and poetry was a huge hit, and soon the audience was dancing along. Then it was poet Ian McMillan s turn to perform two original poems inspired by Shakespeare s plays. Ian McMillan, along with student performers Prospero s my name: my brain is full Of secret ways to make the oceans dance Life with Prospero is never dull I ve built a universe from luck and chance Stanza II of The Isle is Full of Noises by Ian McMillan Even a few of the students had the opportunity to take to the stage and present poetry they had written. Titania was a fairy queen, She fell in love with a donkey in a scene She argued with Oberon, her fairy king She thought she was right about everything! By Holly and Henrietta The storm: Ginormous white sails tearing terribly, Exploding thunder thundering terrifyingly. The island: Peaceful guitars twangling calmly, Strange voices spookily whispering. By Matilda After speeches from Floella and the Head Teacher of Mapledene, the event came to a close. This unique event was one which the students, and anyone involved, will not forget for a long time. But those who weren t in the Mapledene assembly room for the poetry performance can still join in the fun. Will s Wonderful Words was recorded for many more to enjoy, and it will be broadcast throughout Shakespeare Week 2018 (March 12-18). During the week anyone who wants to watch the broadcast is welcome to tune in to the Shakespeare Week website and view it for free. For more information, please visit shakespeareweek.org.uk. 6

The Sonnet Man with some of the students from Mapledene Primary School Some schools need your help to enjoy exploring Will and his wonderful words Each year we welcome thousands of school children to the Shakespeare Family Homes and to participate in inspiring education activities. Teachers tell us that it is not just an increased knowledge of Shakespeare that children gain they benefit from improved communication, creative and critical thinking skills, greater confidence, an improved attitude to learning and broadened horizons. Unfortunately even when we cut our costs to the bare minimum, some schools in deprived areas can t afford to bring a class to Stratford-upon-Avon. Those who could gain most may be missing out on educational experiences that could change lives. Can you help us raise 500 to sponsor a school to visit? You could make a real difference by enabling these young people to benefit from our unique educational and cultural experience. You can donate online at shakespeare.org.uk/ support-us or call us on 01789 339804. All donations will be publicly recognised. Thank you for any help you can give. Baroness Floella Benjamin opening the event 7

Collections UNESCO recognition for Shakespeare s documents The UNESCO International Memory of the World programme has recognised the immense significance to world culture of the Shakespeare Documents the key archival sources for William Shakespeare s biography. This material now has equivalent status in the documentary sphere as the pyramids have for the world s built heritage. The successful nomination was led by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in partnership with The National Archives, Worcestershire Archives and Archaeology Service, the College of Arms, the British Library and London Metropolitan Archives in the UK, and the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C, USA. Together these specialist archive and library repositories care for the precious Shakespeare Documents. Amy Hurst, Collections Archivist at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust said, The documentary trail left by Shakespeare during his lifetime provides a rich narrative of his life, giving unique insights into his personal circumstances and how these may have influenced his creative work. We hold 31 of the hand-written documents from Shakespeare s lifetime that mention him by name and provide a vivid insight into his life as an Elizabethan gentleman and businessman and tell the story of Shakespeare s relationship with his home town through his life. They show the Midland market town as the place of his birth, where he spent his formative years, started a family and where his wife and children remained while Shakespeare to and fro d to London. It s very apparent that Shakespeare s home town was hugely important to him. Our records show it s where he made his most significant financial investments, and indicate a concern for the prosperity of the community and indeed his own status within it. In this way, the Shakespeare Documents we hold provide the bookends of his life, his baptism and burial at Holy Trinity Church, and much in between, showing property purchases, financial investments, legal dealings and personal tragedy. All of these documents allow audiences to connect with Shakespeare, getting closer to the world s most celebrated poet and playwright. And now the inclusion on the International Memory of the World register recognises the universal cultural and historical value of 90 documents relating to Shakespeare s baptism, burial, family matters, property records, legal actions and business dealings. Exemplification of fine for New Place, dated 1597 The documents, held at seven different repositories in the UK and US, can be viewed online on the Shakespeare Documented website: 8 Parish Register for burials listing Hamnet Shakespeare shakespearedocumented.org

Keeping a house in tip top condition is never easy, but when your house is centuries old and visited by thousands of people each day wearing outdoor shoes, carrying bulky back-packs and running their hands along bannisters, we need more than a spring clean to keep them in the condition they deserve! We have a whole team who work behind the scenes making sure the houses are kept spotless throughout the year. Houses Out damned spot and other things uttered by the conservation teams Emily Ireson is House Steward for the Town Houses, overseeing all the conservation work that needs to be done on a daily basis. Her biggest threat? Dust! Not only is dust visually unpleasant for visitors, if left untreated it can cause real damage to the collections. Insects, larva and other biological hazards thrive where there are high levels of dust and it provides a food source and an ideal microclimate for pests to lurk. Dust also has the potential to be chemically reactive, causing particular damage to metals through corrosion. At Hall s Croft the team work tirelessly to keep surfaces as dust free as possible, and prevent it causing any long-term damage. Insects will eat away at historic books, fabrics and even the wooden structure of the house so monitoring the presence of pests using blunder traps, discreetly positioned, means any potential harmful creatures can be identified and treated. An annual deep clean takes place at all the houses to ensure the hidden grime is reached. At Hall s Croft this involves waxing, buffing and polishing every wooden floor, cleaning each individual pane of stained-glass with cotton buds, and even dusting the ceilings! Every item needs to be painstakingly removed from each room, with the minimum of disruption to the pieces themselves. Some are too delicate to be removed, or too heavy, so they have to be covered up whilst the cleaning happens all around. And don t forget we can t use modern polish, cleaners or dusters as they could cause more damage. Amy Davies, Conservation and Engagement Supervisor at Anne Hathaway s Cottage tells us how they have managed to clean the oldest piece of furniture at the Cottage: a bread ark for storing flour dating from the early 1500s. It had suffered a build-up of oil deposits on its surface from years of people touching it without wearing gloves. It took a total of 32 hours to completely clean and wax it! Head Steward at Mary Arden s Farm, Sam Gull, describes the different conservation cleaning methods used on the collection objects depending on what material they are made from and what condition they are in. Most recently Emily Ireson (second from left) and her conservation team the team has been sweeping dust off wooden furniture using hog- and pony-hair brushes, and gently removing rust and grime from iron firedogs with fine grade wire wool. So, lots goes on behind the scenes at all of the houses to ensure everything is spick and span and to ensure damage is kept to a minimum. Conservation staff and volunteers work really hard to preserve all our ancient buildings and contents for future generations to enjoy. Next time you visit you may catch a glimpse of the teams slipping behind the scenes, carrying out this vital work. Conservation in action at Mary Arden s Farm Our Conservation team has written about the work to protect and maintain Shakespeare s Birthplace, which you can read online shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/ shakespedia/ 9

International Residential Courses: Making Shakespeare relevant to all ages, stages, and nationalities For over 60 years, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has been helping inspire national and international appreciation of Shakespeare by welcoming educational study groups of all ages for residential courses. These courses take place at the Shakespeare Centre, located in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon, where participants are able to come and stay and be surrounded by the history and context that inspired the Bard himself. From as close to home as London, to as far away as Mumbai, Honolulu, or Paris, participants come from all parts of the world to be inspired by Shakespeare. Sometimes it can feel very isolating to us to be in South Bend, Indiana and be passionate about Shakespeare Your course showed them that Shakespeare is not an island, but a world and one they belong to. Christy Burgess, Robinson Community Learning Center, Indiana Bringing people from all across the globe together under the banner of Shakespeare is exactly what our residential programmes aim to do. And while many groups are here as part of a study abroad programme, students are not the only ones who participate. Alumni groups, special interest groups and VIP visitors, teachers on Continuing Professional Development courses, and even people on holiday come to learn and be with others who share their same passion. Most recently a group of teachers joined us in a special interest residential course as part of a Travel and Learn Abroad programme through the English-Speaking Union of the United States (ESU America). Many of the teachers were surprised to learn that we care for more than just five Shakespeare family homes. We also care for the largest publicly accessible collection of Shakespeare related material in the world. Participants of our residential courses are given the rare opportunity to see part of this collection behind the scenes. As you can imagine, this experience provides moments of inspiration and insight for each residential group. One teacher recently commented, Getting to see the treasures and archives was beyond my expectations I couldn t believe that I was holding a document that Queen Elizabeth had signed. That was unbelievable I really didn t understand the treasures we d be experiencing today. From all of the other professional developments I ve done around Shakespeare, nothing can compare to being here and doing it. Gina Merrill, Teacher, Los Angeles Dr. Nick Walton teaches a captivated audience 10

A visiting group takes a closer look at some Collections items Some groups come to Stratford-upon-Avon to be immersed in the rich history here. Others come with a focus on drama and performance. For the teachers of the ESU America group, this was a chance to actually see the places and documents they had been teaching about in the classroom for years. It was an opportunity to reignite their own passion for Shakespeare and literature, so in turn they would have unique insights and personal experiences to share with their students. No matter the level of expertise or background knowledge of a group, the flexibility of the residential courses allows us to provide an experiential, relevant, enriching personal experience for every group that comes. All of our courses are shaped to encourage conversation and the sharing of experiences and opinions. It is an incredible privilege to explore Shakespeare s works with such a wide range of learners from across the globe. One moment our lecturers can be giving students their first introduction to a play, and the next moment we can find ourselves chatting with learners who bring a lifetime of experience to their appreciation and understanding of Shakespeare s works. Our courses are truly filled with infinite variety. Dr. Nick Walton, Shakespeare Courses Development Manager, SBT Our residential courses bring people together from diverse locations around the world, through a unified, shared appreciation of Shakespeare, engaging in a collective dialogue. From students to teachers to retired enthusiasts, participants come together to experience Shakespeare s work, life, and times in a unique environment, which has a positive life-long influence. Shakespeare s Birthplace America (SBA) is recognised by the United States Internal Revenue Service as tax-exempt under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code as a charitable and educational organisation. Contributions to SBA are tax-deductible for U.S. taxpayers to the extent provided by the law. To find out more about the work of SBA, become a friend, or make a donation visit: shakespeare.org.uk/support-us/sba/ or email us at sba@shakespeare.org.uk Donations and membership application forms can be mailed in the United States directly to SBA at: Shakespeare s Birthplace America 3554 West Orange Country Club Drive Suite 150 Winter Garden FL 34787 11

What s On FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH 11am 1.30pm Shakespeare for All! WEDNESDAY 11 APRIL 5pm Research Conversation Reconsidering Harold Pinter at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Paul Edmondson, Head of Research and Knowledge, talks to Catriona Fallow, Research Fellow of the University of Birmingham. Free event STRATFORD-UPON-AVON PUBLIC LIBRARY Read through the Complete Works of Shakespeare! Presented by The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in partnership with Warwickshire Libraries. Join us for this FREE event on the first floor of the Stratford-upon-Avon Public Library, Henley Street on 3 March, 7 April, 5 May, 2 June. SATURDAY 10 MARCH 5.30pm 7pm After Hours A Walk in the Dark NEW PLACE Let expert guides take you on a journey of discovery through the gardens where Shakespeare s family home once stood in our special after dark tour. See the glorious gardens of Shakespeare s New Place lit up, explore the stunning art installations by award-winning artists and hear about how they were made and inspired by Shakespeare. Booking is essential as spaces are limited. 10 Friends 8 SATURDAY 14 APRIL 5.30pm 7pm After Hours Macbeth, what s it all about then? THE SHAKESPEARE CENTRE With the Scottish play running at the RSC from March, have you ever wondered what makes this play so popular? Does it still have any relevance today? Come along and find out more about the play and the questions it raises. An introduction to Shakespeare, designed for everyone. 10 Friends & RSC Members 8 SATURDAY 14 APRIL 10am 4.30pm Shakespeare Connected A one day conference showcasing current research. Including What the Victorians Made of Shakespeare, The Faith of William Shakespeare, The Interior of New Place, and more. 18 Friends 15 12 WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH 5pm Research Conversation The Warwick District Appeal Tribunal (including for conscientious objectors) 1916 1918. Paul Edmondson, Head of Research and Knowledge, talks to Philip and Julie Spinks. Free event FRIDAY 20 APRIL 4pm 5pm Shakespeare Birthday Lecture The distinguished Shakespearian, Jane Lapotaire will be in conversation with Paul Edmondson, SBT Head of Research and Knowledge. 10 Friends 9

WEDNESDAY 9 MAY 5pm Research Conversation Hear the ambassadors : Sir Henry Wotton, Venetian Ambassador in Shakespeare s time. Paul Edmondson, Head of Research and Knowledge, talks to Carol Rutter, SBT Trustee and Professor of Shakespeare and Performance Studies at the University of Warwick. Free event SATURDAY 12 MAY 5.30pm After Hours Life on a Tudor Farm Join our resident Tudor Sharon Lippett as she tells tales from Mary Arden s Farm. Every day on the Farm the Tudor team live like Tudors, cooking traditional foods and wearing Tudor clothes. Find out from Sharon what it s like to live like a Tudor. 10 Friends 8 MONDAY 21 MAY MONDAY 3 SEPTEMBER CENTRE OPENING TIMES Hear the Ambassadors Exhibition Step back in time for a glimpse into seventeenth-century diplomacy and discover the little known history of Henry Wotton, Ambassador of James I. Created in partnership with the University of Warwick, this exhibition unpacks the ambassador s fascinating role as mediator. Entry free for Friends, or with a valid Birthplace ticket MONDAY 21 MAY MONDAY 31 DECEMBER CENTRE OPENING TIMES Peace and Reconciliation Exhibition In the centenary of the end of the First World War, we re inviting advocates for world peace to share their favourite items from our world-renowned collections. Entry free for Friends, or with a valid Birthplace ticket SATURDAY 9 JUNE 5.30pm After Hours Photography Skills ANNE HATHAWAY S COTTAGE Professional photographer Andrew Page shows you how to get the best from the world famous Anne Hathaway s Cottage. Bring your camera for exclusive private access after hours and guidance for the best shots of the most photographed cottage in Britain. 10 Friends 8 SUNDAY 17 SUNDAY 24 JUNE 5.30pm Stratford upon Avon Poetry Festival Inspired by peace and reconciliation the 65th annual Poetry Festival celebrates the best of local and international talent. There will be events every day with highlights such as: Sunday 17 June Washed with such a peace : Poetry for Reconciliation 20 Friends 15 Saturday 23 June Midsummer Bonfire at Anne Hathaway s Cottage Sunday 25 June Wilfred Owen (1893-1918) More information at shakespeare.org/whatson Booking essential tickets now available How to book Friends receive special prices for all events check when booking Online shakespeare.org/events Call 01789 339804 By post Complete the enclosed booking form Turn to page 15 for exclusive Friends events 13

Gift Shop We are such stuff as dreams are made on Shakespeare s Words of Wisdom: Panorama Pop 6 Friends 5.40 This charming gift book collects together some of Shakespeare s best known and well loved words of wisdom. Cleverly unfolding to reveal quotations about love, power, fate and destiny that still resonate today, this beautifully illustrated book is definitely one to keep. Illustrated by Tatiana Boyko. Published by Walker Books in association with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Shakespeare Inspired scarves Have you seen our new range of silk and viscose scarves inspired by beautiful books and objects in the Trust s collections? Choose from six Shakespeare Inspired 20 designs, with gift box Friends 18 Vintage Ladybird retail collection We are delighted to introduce our Vintage Ladybird retail collection, an exclusive range of prints and stationery from the Ladybird archive. Exclusively designed for us, the range features illustrations of Shakespeare and his world from the golden age of Ladybird Books. Greetings card 2.50 Friends 2.25 Sketchbook 3.99 Friends 3.59 Set of 8 postcards 5.00 Friends 4.50 Unframed print 6.00 Friends 5.40 What, ladybird! Romeo and Juliet Act 1, Scene 3 Hall s Croft Cafe has had a refresh The cafe has been redecorated and spruced up ready for Spring so why not use your Friends 10% discount and treat yourself to lunch or afternoon tea, then wander around the garden in the Spring sunshine. The cafe uses herbs grown in the garden, and as much organic and free range produce as they can. A slice of cake and a cup of tea starts at only 3.50 for Friends! 14 Don t forget to use your Friends 10% discount in the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Cafes, Gift Shops and online at shop.shakespeare.org.uk Every purchase helps support our work.

Friends Feedback We want to hear from you! Send us your feedback to share with others what do you think about Shakespeare, being a Friend and what we do? For each letter published we will present a voucher for a cream tea for two at one of our cafes. You are invited to celebrate Shakespeare s Birthday with these exclusive Friends events! Chairman s Dinner FRIDAY 20 APRIL, 7PM THE MARBLE HALL, Come and join us to meet old friends and new. We would love to have the chance to chat with you over dinner in the Marble Hall, which will be suitably decorated for the occasion. We will be joined by the Tudor Mistresses from Mary Arden s Farm and entertained with words and music. Chairman Peter Kyle OBE will lead us all in a toast on the eve of Mr Shakespeare s 454th birthday celebrations. Friends 28 Three course dinner with a glass of wine and entertainment. Please book by Friday 30 March indicating any dietary or access requirements. Morning Coffee Reception SATURDAY 21 APRIL, 9.30AM On Saturday morning we will be hosting Morning Coffee and pastries at the Shakespeare Centre before the annual Birthday Parade. Drop in for refreshment and a chat on this festive day and meet Friends, our staff and guests. Free for Friends Booking required as numbers are limited. And the winner is Our Christmas Quiz proved to be a real brain teaser with no fully correct entries! From those entries with the highest score Karolyn Brookes was picked out of the Christmas stocking as our winner. Well done Karolyn. There will be a new Quiz towards the end of the year so time to get your Shakespearian trivia up to date! Join us to discover the Treasures of the Reading Room TUESDAY 22 MAY 2:30 3:30PM We d be delighted if you could join us on Tuesday 22 May in the Reading Room at the Shakespeare Centre for a talk from our knowledgeable staff and a unique encounter with some of the fascinating items from our Collection. We ll then continue the conversation with the Collections team over tea and cake. Free for Friends and local residents Booking required as numbers are limited. Joan McFarlane an old Friend We were saddened to hear of the death of Joan McFarlane, who many of you may have known. Joan was a long-term Friend and donor, and a well-known character in Stratford. She was a town councillor for many years and Mayor, and SBT Trustee, between 1995 6. She was a great supporter of the SBT and its events and a regular user of our collections. Joan also generously donated and planted a Handkerchief Tree (Davidia involucrata) in the garden of Shakespeare s Birthplace last year. Joan s life was celebrated at a special service at Holy Trinity church earlier this year. STAY CONNECTED Contact us development@shakespeare.org.uk Friends Office Development Department, The Shakespeare Centre, Henley Street, Stratford upon Avon CV37 6QW Phone 01789 339804 Website shakespeare.org.uk Facebook @shakespearebt Twitter @shakespearebt Instagram @shakespearebtrust Blogs bloggingshakespeare.com findingshakespeare.co.uk livingshakespeare.com 15

Creative Muse Shakespeare s creative legacy lives on through the exciting new work produced by artists from around the world, as well as here in the UK. Carrie Reichardt has been appointed Artist in Residence at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Carrie s residency will result in six commissions with a fresh, contemporary perspective on Shakespeare and the people and places associated with his home town of Stratford-upon-Avon, taking academic and literary ideas and distilling them to visual images. Her plans are to turn old, unwanted souvenirs into brand new pieces of contemporary art. The work she produces will be launched later in the year. I am very excited and honoured to become the visual artist in residence at The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. My work intersects craft and activism, using mural, mosaic and screenprinting to forge a pioneering aesthetic. Inspired by the British tradition of subversive ceramics, I have been producing a series of subversive souvenirs, which offer a postmodern and humorous comment on kitsch consumerism. After visiting New Place and meeting local volunteers Ged and George, I have created my first ceramic as part of my body of work related to this residency. Carrie Reichardt, Artist in Residence New Place volunteers Ged and George If you have any Shakespearian souvenirs that you would be happy to donate to Carrie to be transformed, get in touch! Published by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, The Shakespeare Centre, Henley Street, Stratford upon Avon CV37 6QW Shakespeare Birthplace Trust 2018 Registered Charity Number 209302. shakespeare.org.uk