Apr 23 marks 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare and there’s a slew of upcoming events dedicated to him as part of the British Council’s Shakespeare Lives program. Here’s where you can celebrate the life of the literary legend.
Shakespeare Lives in Film (Apr 21-24)
National Theatre Live: Hamlet (Apr 21-24)
The next best thing to seeing Benedict Cumberbatch perform in person, National Theatre Live: Hamlet is a screening of the actor’s turn as the titular character during a run of the play at the Barbican Centre in 2015.
Costa Coffee With Shakespeare (Apr 23)
Gaurav Kripalani
Costa Coffee’s 313@Somerset outlet will host a one-off panel discussion featuring Marc Nair, Adrian Pang, Gaurav Kripalani and Roland Davis. The four will examine The Bard’s enduring popularity during the session which runs from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Actor Jonathan Lim will also be on hand to deliver a performance that gives Shakespeare a Singlish twist.
Shakespeare in the Park – Romeo and Juliet (Apr 27-May 22)
Fittingly, this year’s edition of Shakespeare in the Park revisits what is arguably the man’s most famous play. A Singapore Repertory Theatre production, the timeless tale of star-crossed lovers will see Thomas Pang and Cheryl Tan take on the lead roles with the likes of Daniel Jenkins, Remesh Panicker and Shane Mardjuki in the supporting cast. Internationally-renowned director Daniel Slater will helm the show.
Shaking It With Shakespeare (from May 14)
Shakespeare stamp from the Singapore Philatelic Museum Collection
Hosted by the Singapore Philatelic Museum in partnership with the British Council, this exhibition will showcase Shakespeare-themed stamps from around the world and artefacts from his era alongside interactive presentations of his work. Various workshops and special programs for families and children will also be held concurrently. The exhibition is scheduled to run until Jan 2017.
EUFF – Prospero’s Books (May 19)
Representing the United Kingdom at this year’s European Union Film Festival, Prospero’s Books (1991) is an adaptation of The Tempest starring Sir John Gielgud.
Letters to Shakespeare (Until Sep 29)
Letters to Shakespeare is a traveling exhibition that will visit five public libraries over a six-month period. The exhibition includes talks and performances.
