Happy birthday Shakespeare!

To celebrate what would have been the old chap’s 448^th birthday this week, here are a few Shakespeare related goings on in the East End and beyond…

Baba Shakespeare

Arcola Tent in Dalston until 2^nd May

Set in post-colonial India, this highly theatrical take on an award winning classic film interweaves the plays of Shakespeare with the world of Bollywood to create a moving and original love story. Featuring dance, puppetry and an original musical score. To book tickets go to www.babashakespeare.com

Shakespeare in Shoreditch walk with Footprints of London

28^th April

Footprints of London are running a new series of walks that looks at Shakespeare’s life in three different parts of London – Shoreditch, Southwark and the West End. For details and to book go to www.footprintsoflondon.com/shakespeare

Globe to Globe Shakespeare Festival

21^st April – 9^th June

This mass scale event will see Shakespeare’s plays performed, each in a different language, each by a different international company, every day for six weeks by national theatres, renowned artists as well as young organisations, incuding of course London’s Globe. For details and to book go to www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Hackney Museum

Date TBC

Given that Shoreditch is where the bard’s first theatre was located, the remnants of the site which was dug up in 2008 will be put on display at the hackney Museum next month. So keep a look out for that!

The Shakespeare Trail

Starts outside St Paul’s station every Saturday until 26^th May

This trail takes you to some of the places which shaped the bard’s life after he came to the capital with his brother and began to immerse himself in theatrical London life. Tours start at 2.30pm and cost £10 per person. To book and for more details go to www.shakespearetrail.com

The Shakespeare

57 Allen Road, Stoke Newington

If all of the above seem a little too much then you can always just go to one of Hackney’s best pubs, the Shakespeare, for a pint.