FROM storytelling to sword fighting, the curtain is about to go up on a summer of family fun with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
A special programme of events will run across the Shakespeare family homes in Stratford throughout July, August and into September.
Events at Mary Arden’s Farm include Hamlet The Comedy by Oddsocks Productions on July 22 and 23 July,. Tudor family experience days will give a glimpse into what life was like on the farm where Shakespeare spent some of his childhood. Families will be led through different activities during these specially-curated days, including Tudor gardening, designing wall hangings, sugar crafting and quill writing.
While family activity days at Mary Arden’s Farm will include plenty of hands-on activities including sword fighting, music and dance and a tour of Palmer’s Farm.
Youngsters can play history detective with three new trails at Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Shakespeare’s New Place.
There will be a Sword School at Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Visitors can enjoy live Tudor music performed on replica Tudor instruments by The Handlebars in the gardens of Shakespeare’s Birthplace and New Place.
At Anne Hathaway’s Cottage there will be nature trails with clues to follow around the gardens with a prize from the gift shop at the end.
Storytelling with Pyn Stockman will take place at Shakespeare’s New Place and Breathing Space at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is a new sculptural and digital art installation by Artist in Residence Aidan Moseby.
Rachael Boyd, director of visitor experience at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said: “With the summer holidays fast approaching, we’re really excited to be announcing a fun-packed programme of family-friendly events throughout the coming months, when we look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to reconnect and enjoy Shakespeare’s work, life and times. We’ve been working hard to plan events for all ages across our sites, including at Mary Arden’s Farm where families can immerse themselves in Tudor times on special dates throughout the summer”.
Visit www.shakespeare.org.uk for more information and to book tickets.
