As part of their ambitious plans for 2009, The Shakespeare Birthplace =
Trust=20
will be opening a new exhibition and visitor centre at =
Shakespeare=E2=80=99s Birthplace=20
giving visitors a spectacular new visual experience and insight into the =
life of=20
our greatest playwright, William Shakespeare. The new centre will be =
partly=20
funded by Advantage West Midlands, who have awarded =C2=A3250,000 =
towards the=20
project.
The new visitor centre and exhibition entitled =E2=80=98Life, Love =
& Legacy: A=20
New Introduction to William Shakespeare=E2=80=99, is due to open in =
April 2009, and will=20
see visitors journey through five zones in a truly immersive experience. =
The=20
visitor centre, which is set within the grounds of the house where =
Shakespeare=20
was born, is the centrepiece of the five houses that The Shakespeare =
Birthplace=20
Trust opens to the public in and around Stratford.
The Trust has appointed leading UK creative design and AV specialists =
Sarner=20
to undertake this exciting project and truly animate this important =
introduction=20
to Shakespeare=E2=80=99s house. Sarner has a wealth of global experience =
and can claim=20
amongst its projects everything from =E2=80=98Fright Nights=E2=80=99 for =
Tussauds Group, the=20
=E2=80=98Our Finest Hour=E2=80=99 display at RAF Hendon, =
=E2=80=98Trafalgar=E2=80=99 at the Royal Navy Museum,=20
Portsmouth and The Mount Vernon Museum in Washington.
Fascinating Shakespeare- related artefacts will be presented in a =
dynamic way=20
that encapsulates the excitement and passion of the man himself, for =
example=20
Shakespeare=E2=80=99s original 1623 =E2=80=98First Folio=E2=80=99 (the =
pride of The Trust=E2=80=99s collection)=20
will be revealed to visitors by theatrical lighting in front of =
transition=20
gauze, which then lights up and literally brings the book to life!
Diana Owen, Director of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust said =
=E2=80=9CShakespeare=20
still has powerful resonance around the world and if he were alive today =
he=20
would tell his own story in an entertaining and theatrical way with =
sound,=20
lighting, entrances and exits, all the techniques he used so brilliantly =
in his=20
plays. With =E2=80=98Life, Love and Legacy=E2=80=99 we hope to be able =
to introduce more people=20
to our work and treasures and of course to Shakespeare. This is the =
first step=20
to making both Shakespeare and Stratford an unmissable experience for =
visitors=20
from the UK and around the globe.=E2=80=9D
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is an independent charity that makes =
Shakespeare=E2=80=99s heritage accessible to all and has been awarded =
=C2=A3250,000 by=20
Advantage West Midlands along with further match funding from The =
Shakespeare=20
Birthplace Trust itself.
Philip Roberts, Partnerships Director at Advantage West Midlands =
said: =E2=80=9CWe=20
are delighted to be supporting this project to enhance the experience of =
visitors to this world-famous property, in line with our well =
established policy=20
of support to the enduring legacy of Shakespeare in the West =
Midlands=E2=80=9D
Roger Allonby, Head of Tourism Development Policy for Advantage West =
Midlands=20
said, =E2=80=9CStratford is an international visitor destination, and =
Shakespeare=E2=80=99s=20
Birthplace one of its foremost attractions. We are delighted to support =
the=20
enhancement and modernisation of this unique and historic place, which =
is one of=20
those featured in our autumn tourism campaign.=E2=80=9D =
Cllr=20
Les Topham, Chairman of the World Class Stratford Strategy Group, added: =
=E2=80=9CVisitors to Stratford expect the Shakespeare experience to be =
truly world class=20
and inspiring, so this latest investment in the town will help meet =
those=20
expectations and is to be warmly welcomed.=E2=80=9D
The re-fitting of the new centre begins this November and will be =
complete by=20
April 2009. Shakespeare=E2=80=99s Birthplace will of course be open as =
normal throughout=20
this period and visitors will access the house through The Shakespeare =
Centre,=20
which houses an exhibition based on the critically acclaimed book and =
television=20
series =E2=80=98In Search of Shakespeare=E2=80=99 by Michael Wood. This =
temporary exhibition and=20
Shakespeare=E2=80=99s Birthplace will remain open whilst the new visitor =
centre takes=20
shape, welcoming the many global pilgrims who come to Stratford =
=E2=80=93 in search of=20
Shakespeare!