SOLIHULL is set to have its own Midsummer Night’s Dream and will be making Much Ado about Shakespeare, thanks to Festival 36.
Running from 17 June to 2 July, the two-week festival celebrates the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio with Shakespeare-themed activities and performances and finishes with a rare chance to view Birmingham’s copy of the First Folio at The Core Theatre on Sunday 2 July.
The project is in partnership with Everything to Everybody, an initiative which celebrates the only publicly owned copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio.
Usually archived in the Shakespeare Memorial Library in the Library of Birmingham, the Folio is on tour visiting communities in Birmingham and Solihull.
The Folio was published seven years after Shakespeare’s death. It is an important publication as without its existence, half of Shakespeare’s plays would have been lost.
Solihull Council’s cabinet member for leisure and communities, Coun Wazma Qais, said: “With something for everyone, Festival 36 is a must for both fans of William Shakespeare and the curious.
“We have free slots to view Birmingham’s First Folio, a live performance of The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged and National Theatre Live Shakespeare screenings.
“There will also be arts and craft and Shakespeare story time activities in all our libraries, plus a collection of new sonnets written by local people.
“We are particularly excited that 36 schools and 36 different locations across the borough – including shopping centres, libraries and transport hubs – will host performances by our travelling Bards.”
Visit https://www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk/whats-on/all-shows/festival-36/27143 for more information.
