- Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is working in partnership with Holy Trinity Church, the RSC, the Guild Chapel, Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall, Brook Arts Hub, The Town Council and Stratford Library on a mega Joint Open Day as part of Shakespeare Week.
- Local school pupils can expect creative arts workshops, a Tudor lesson complete with feather quill, a special Council meeting hosted by Stratford Mayor, and a guided tour of the Swan Theatre plus lots more.
- Shakespeare Week 2026 Joint Open Day is free for local schools. Find out more via: https://www.shakespeareweek.org.uk/
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is working in partnership with Holy Trinity Church, the RSC, the Guild Chapel, Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall, Brook Arts Hub, The Town Council and Stratford Library on a mega Joint Open Day as part of Shakespeare Week 2026.
Free to local schools, the Joint Open Day will engage with hundreds of local primary school children.
Rachael North, Chief Executive of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust said: “We are delighted to be working with so many partners across Stratford to be able to deliver a fantastic celebration of Shakespeare right here in his hometown. Shakespeare Week aims to ensure every child has a positive first experience of Shakespeare and through the Joint Open Day – and the range of events and activities taking place across the week – we are certainly on the way to making sure that is the case.”
Local schools attending will enjoy the following free activities:
Shakespeare inspired workshops with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust including a creative arts workshop run by local artist, Ros Ingram, and an ‘on the spot’ performance workshop blending hip-hop beats and Shakespeare's words led by 'The Sonnet Man'.
At Shakespeare's Schoolroom and Guildhall children can discover the missing chapter from the story of Shakespeare's life in Stratford - his education and the inspiration that led him to become the world's greatest playwright. The visit includes a Tudor lesson with young William's schoolmaster and a chance to write with a feather quill.
A unique chance to take part in a special meeting hosted by the Mayor at Stratford Town Council. The visit includes the opportunity to debate a local issue and dress up as some of the principal officers of the Council including the Mayor, Town Clerk, Macebearers and Beadle.
The Guild Chapel has long associations with Shakespeare and his family, standing across the road from the playwright’s final home, New Place, and right next door to his schoolroom. The visit includes a chance to look at the paintings on the Chapel walls and discover more about one of Stratford-Upon-Avon's most historic buildings.
At the Royal Shakespeare Company schools will experience a guided tour of the Swan Theatre, as well as the theatre's Front of House spaces and the multimedia room, to discover more than a 100 years of theatre-making magic.
At Holy Trinity Church children can see where Shakespeare was baptised and buried, as well as see the bust of Shakespeare and spot the mysterious curse! The visit will also include a rare opportunity to see the Parish Register with entries from Shakespeare's time.
Children can also enjoy a self-facilitated guided walk around the town following in Shakespeare's footsteps and visit Shakespeare's Birthplace and New Place Gardens along the way.
At Stratford Library, children can enjoy and interactive storytelling session based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream and take part in craft activities.
At Brook Arts Hub, children will be working with local artists to create props and masks based on Shakespeare’s most iconic plays.
Find out how you can get involved, access free Shakespeare content and be inspired via www.shakespeareweek.org.uk
For further information contact [email protected]
Shakespeare Week 2026 has been generously supported by the Arts Council and the Sir Barry Jackson Trust.
