Libraries across Sunderland are brushing up their Shakespeare as they get ready to celebrate a whole week of events devoted to the Bard.
Events planned for schools and libraries include performance workshops and special effects make-up sessions on the theme of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ with Theatre Space North East.
There are also craft sessions in local primary schools and two Family craft sessions next Saturday 19 March, where families will be able to create a Shakespeare portrait, make an Elizabethan scroll, test out their quill skills and write out their favourite Shakespeare quote.
The sessions are at:
Washington Town Centre Library
10.30 – 12 noon
City Library and Arts Centre
11am – 12.30pm
Time for Rhyme sessions in libraries are also joining in, with a Shakespeare Lullaby specially written for National Shakespeare Week.
Councillor John Kelly, Portfolio Holder for Public Health, Wellness and Culture at Sunderland City council, said: “Four hundred years after his death, Shakespeare remains one of our greatest playwrights and it’s only right that this year of all years we should celebrating his lasting legacy.
“Love him or loathe him, generations of children will remember studying Shakespeare at school. I bet most of us can still recite or recognise at least one line from his plays so he really does play a unique role in our culture and I’m delighted that our libraries are able to play their part in bringing his work to life.”
National Shakespeare Week – 14-20 March 2016 – Activities
Monday 14 March
10am – 12 noon Theatre Space Performance Workshop, St Anthony’s Girls Catholic Academy
10.30-11.30am Shakespeare Crafts, Fulwell Library (Redby Primary School)
Tuesday 15 March
9.50-11.40am Theatre Space Performance Workshop, Biddick Academy
1 – 3pm Theatre Space Performance Workshop, Castleview Academy
1.30 – 2.30pm Shakespeare Crafts, Washington Town Centre Library (Biddick Primary)
4 – 5.30pm Theatre Space Special Effects Workshop, Back on The Map
Wednesday 16 March
9.30-11.30am Theatre Space Performance Workshop Houghton Kepier School
1.30-2.30pm Shakespeare Crafts, Houghton Library (Bernard Gilpin Primary)
1.30-2.30pm Shakespeare Crafts, Washington Town Centre Library (Biddick Primary)
Thursday 17 March
8.45-10.45am Theatre Space Performance Workshop, Grindon Hall Christian School
1.20-3pm Theatre Space Special Effects Workshop, Sandhill View Academy
Friday 18 March
10-11am Shakespeare Crafts, City Library (Valley Road Primary School)
1.20-2.50pm Theatre Space Special Effects Workshop, Washington Town Centre Library (Oxclose Primary Academy)
1.30-2.30pm Shakespeare Crafts, Sandhill Centre Library (St Leonard’s RC Primary)
Saturday 19 March
11am – 12.30pm Shakespeare Crafts, City Library and Arts Centre
10.30am – 12 noon Shakespeare Crafts, Washington Town Centre Library
Please note only the two family events on Saturday 19 March are open to the public. If you are interested in sending a photographer to any of the events please contact Rose Peacock in the Media Team on 561 1136 or rose.peacock@sunderland.gov.uk to arrange.