SHAKESPEARE’S birthday celebrations are this year set to turn the focus on his home town with a salute to Stratford.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT) – which cares for the Shakespeare properties in and around Stratford and which also plays a major role in sharing the Bard’s legacy worldwide – is looking to celebrate the town where he was born online.
With the annual celebration, which had been due to take place on Saturday April 25 this year, cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis, SBT has decided to co-ordinate a massive #SaluteToStratford on social media next Thursday April 23 – the 456th anniversary of the playwright’s birthday.
An SBT spokesperson said: “Stratford-upon-Avon is the beating heart of the global Shakespeare story and we want to celebrate our community here with the world.
“As the town’s traditional Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebrations are cancelled, we want to turn the spotlight instead all the brilliant and resilient people and businesses that together make Shakespeare’s home town such a special place to live, work and visit.
“We’re inviting all local businesses, organisations and community leaders to come together with their own social media activity to showcase everything that’s great (big or small) about our town. You might have a favourite spot, a cherished memory, or dreams about what you’ll do when Stratford is open again.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are open for business or currently closed, like the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Working together we can salute the best of Stratford-upon-Avon, and share it worldwide. Simply share with us your images and memories of what makes Stratford such a special place for you using the hashtag #SaluteToStratford.
“We are also approaching Shakespeare-related institutions and communities worldwide to join in with #SaluteToStratford, and we will line up some special Birthday content.”
