From the first breath of spring to glorious midsummer, Shakespeare Country has much to offer.
Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, is a town steeped in history. Set in the beautiful Warwickshire countryside, on the banks of the river Avon, the town is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country and as we move towards the warmer days of summer, there’s plenty to make a trip worthwhile.
No visit to Stratford would be complete without a visit to the world famous Swan Theatre, home to The Royal Shakespeare Company. The new season brings Shakespeare’s the tumultuous conclusion of the three-part Henry VI – Rebellion and The War of the Roses to the Stratford-upon-Avon stage.
With more battles than any other Shakespeare play, Wars of the Roses is a thrilling climax to the saga of nationhood and power: who will emerge victorious?
But if you prefer your art to your theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon also comes up with the goods as Compton Verney unveils three major art exhibitions in 2022.
Art at Compton Verney
Morag Myerscough
Internationally-acclaimed artist Morag Myerscough will be creating two site-specific installations as part of a Summer of Colour at Compton Verney.
The first a bold, colourful installation that will transform our historic house. The second in the Old Town Meadow, disrupting and drawing attention to our landscape.
The house installation will open on Tuesday 15 March – Monday 30 May.
The installation in Old Town Meadow will open by the end of the month.
Portrait Artist of the Year Exhibition
This commemorative exhibition celebrates eight years of SkyArts’ most successful tv series – Portrait Artist of the Year. Curated by one of the programme’s guest judges, Kathleen Soriano, Portrait Artist of the Year will feature over 120 works of art selected from the more than 1,000 artists who have taken part over the years.
The exhibition includes portraits of a number of celebrity sitters, from Kim Cattrall to Stanley Tucci, Rick Wakeman to Nile Rodgers, Bernardine Evaristo to John Cooper Clark, Michaela Coel to Zandra Rhodes, and from Melvyn Bragg to Graham Norton and will go some way to argue that figurative art and portraiture are very much alive and well today.
This Spring sees a new dynamic visitor attraction open in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespearience. Shakespearience presents the life and legacy of William Shakespeare using the latest developments in show technology and special effects. Shakespearience provides entertainment for all the family, giving visitors the chance to learn more about Shakespeare within a fun environment.
Portrait Artist of the Year runs from 19 February – 05 June.
Through the Lens of Masterji
Maganbhai Patel (1924 – 2018), more widely-known as Masterji, came to national attention in 2016 when, at the age of 94, he received his first solo exhibition as part of Coventry’s bid to become UK City of Culture. For decades prior to this, Masterji was a well-known figure within Coventry as the first Indian photographer in the city.
His portraits – taken over the course of more than fifty years – now represent a unique and evocative archive of the faces and lived experiences of people migrating to the Midlands and making it their home.
Through the Lens of Masterji – 12 February – Sun 22 May.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
Shakespeare’s Houses are renowned for their stunning gardens. Take a historic journey through Shakespeare’s gardens, from the quintessential English Cottage Garden of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage to the Elizabethan style knot garden at Nash’s House & New Place, from the formal herbal bed and herbaceous borders of Hall’s Croft to the wild flower meadows of Mary Arden’s House.
Warwick Castle
Outside of Stratford, Warwick Castle, Britain’s Greatest Mediaeval Experience, offers some exciting events, such as the magnificent The Falconer’s Quest (between 2 April and 31 October 2022) as up to 60 birds of prey take to the skies.
Warwick Castle keeps Britain’s rich chivalric history alive with demonstrations of archery in The Bowman’s Zone. Expert archers show why this weapon was so revered and how the nation’s bowmen honed their skills for use in battle. Brave knights never fail to enthral as they pit their wits and strength against each other in a contest of courage, colourful horsemanship and military precision and from 23 July to 4 September, The War of the Roses takes place in the castle grounds.
Find out more about Shakespeare country
For more information on events and attractions visit Shakespeare’s England, Royal Shakespeare Company, Visit Warwickshire.
If you enjoyed Shakespeare Country – Spring fun in the Bard’s birthplace, you’ll find more ideas for days out in the UK on our Travel channel.
About the Author / Gareth Hargreaves
Gareth looks after all editorial content on 50connect. He is the Swiss Army knife of content ideas and production.
