THE PLAY’S the Thing exhibition is reopening in time to celebrate Shakespeare’s Birthday.
The exhibition, based at the Swan Theatre, has been closed for three years but will be reopening on Saturday (April 22) in time for the Bard’s big day.
Over the past year the RSC’s Creative Placemaking and Public Programmes Team have been working with communities in Stratford through collections workshops to co-curate the new display.
These included Goodwill and Growth for Africa Yarn Bombers, Welcome Here – a local support group for refugees new to the UK, and second-year fashion and make-up students at Stratford College.
The re-opening of the exhibition will also see the launch of a new artwork – Three Gold Threads. The team has been working with artist and composer Liz Gre and nine women, who are part of the refugee community and are supported by Welcome Here, to examine Shakespeare’s First Folio from the perspectives of refugees living in Stratford today.
The exhibition is free and is open daily from 12 noon until 7.15pm.
No advance booking is necessary.
Along with the re-opening of The Play’s the Thing, the RSC will celebrate Shakespeare’s Birthday with free family friendly activity in the Swan Theatre Gardens between 12noon and 1.30pm and 2.30pm and 4.30pm with performances of TOAST by Pif-Paf Theatre, an energetic, ambitious, and communal celebration of food, song, story, dance and fire with storytelling from Ian Douglas.
Guests will also be invited to explore the new RSC Sensory Map which will encourage visitors to find out more about the heritage of the RSC’s buildings using their senses.
And visitors can get creative by making beaded jewellery with the Gaga Yarn Bombers, celebrate the start of Eid with Welcome Here by making lanterns to take home and learn how to design their dream costume or wildest fashion accessory with Stratford College by using the RSC’s creative design sheets and fabric scraps from the costume department.
