A year-long celebration marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio is about to get underway in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Without its publication in 1623, 18 of Shakespeare’s plays would have been lost to time, including Macbeth, The Tempest and Twelfth Night.
Master William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies, known as the First Folio, is one of the most important books in western literature.
The centrepiece of the new exhibition, opening at Shakespeare’s New Place at the end of the March, is the Ashburnham First Folio, an original copy acquired by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in the 19th Century and the most valuable item in its vast collection today.
“Producing the book was a labour of love and we have his friends and fellow actors to thank for publishing it seven years after Shakespeare died. It was one of the most important and enduring artistic legacies of all time and this is something we are excited to explore in our upcoming exhibition.”
Said Professor Charlotte Scott, Director of Knowledge and Engagement for The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
The story of the First Folio begins at New Place, the location of the new exhibition and Shakespeare’s family home from 1597 until his death in 1616. It is the presumed location of where he wrote his will, and indeed some of the plays, the significance of which will be explored in the exhibition.
For the first time, audiences will have the opportunity to view three key items that organisers say will help visitors dig deeper into the story of the Folio and its enduring legacy.
Alongside the First Folio will be a seal ring. Found in a field close to Holy Trinity Church in Stratford and dating from Shakespeare’s time it bears the initials ‘W.S’ and has long been thought to have been worn by the man himself.
“We know that Shakespeare bequeathed money in his will to the men who would go on to publish ‘Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies’, John Heminges and Henry Condell, to buy mourning rings. This could be seen as a personal promise that they would publish his plays in one great volume.”
Continued Charlotte.
A Great Variety of Readers
In addition to the two key items from Shakespeare’s time will be a 17th Century notebook of one of his earliest and most devoted fans, which is being publicly exhibited for the first time. Filled with quotations and notes on the plays contained within the Folio it is thought this is the first example of an individual studying Shakespeare’s work in detail and highlighting the Trust’s guiding principles that Shakespeare is for everyone.
“The publishing of the First Folio has allowed every generation to explore and re-interpret Shakespeare’s works. The inscription on the title page itself makes reference to "To the Great Variety of Readers" a nod that this book was intended to be accessible to a wide audience and that Shakespeare’s work should be available for everyone to enjoy, not a privileged few.”
The exhibition is the first announcement of a year of activity designed to celebrate the publication of the First Folio by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. They will be hosting a series of special events aimed at a variety of audiences from children to Shakespeare enthusiasts and experts across the year, to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to engage with and celebrate Stratford’s greatest son and his enduring legacy.
A Great Variety of Readers – 400 Years of Shakespeare’s First Folio opens on Saturday 25 March at Shakespeare’s New Place in Stratford-upon-Avon. Access to the exhibition is included in admission tickets to Shakespeare’s New Place, starting from £13 for adults and £6.50 for children. Admission is also included in the Shakespeare’s Story ticket, which grants access to all the other Shakespeare family homes, including Shakespeare’s Birthplace.