The Shakespeare Birthday Lecture 2026

Friday 24th April, 4.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.
The Shakespeare Institute, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6HP.
Option to attend online and a Zoom link will be sent closer to the event date.
---------------------------------------------------------

Much Ado About Books:
Shedding New Light on Shakespeare's Neighbours and In-laws, the Quineys.

Ground-breaking new research has recently been able to identify two books as having come from the Stratford-upon-Avon of Shakespeare’s own time. The first is by Erasmus and belonged to Shakespeare’s friend and neighbour Richard Quiney. The second is a commentary on Aristotle and belonged to Shakespeare’s grandson (also called Richard Quiney, the son of Thomas and Judith Quiney), when he attended St John’s College, Oxford. Both books are in Latin.

How do these books shed light on the education available in Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon?

What might they tell us about the intellectual culture of Shakespeare’s neighbourhood?

How do they enliven our understanding of Shakespeare’s creativity?

Speakers:

Marlin E. Blaine, Professor of English and Comparative Literature, California State University.

Lena Cowen Orlin, Professor Emerita of English, Georgetown University, Washington DC. and Fellow of the Hagler Institute at Texas A&M University.

Robert Bearman, Honorary Research Fellow in the School of History and Cultures, University of Birmingham and formerly Head of Archives and Local Studies for The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon.

Alan H. Nelson, Professor Emeritus of English, University of California, Berkeley.

And, from 3.00 p.m. to 3.45 p.m, an additional, special performance: PARALLEL POETS: Dreaming of William Shakespeare & Tang Xianzu

In 1616, two great dramatic poets died: William Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon, and Tang Xianzu in Fuzhou, China. Though continents apart, their works became twin pillars of world theatre. In 2019, Professor Huang Bikang of Peking University began translating Tang’s masterpieces into English verse shaped by Shakespearean pentameter, uniting their voices in shared rhythm.

Now, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and the Shakespeare Institute present a programme celebrating these parallel poets. Directed by New York City director Emily C. A. Snyder, with performances from Fuzhou, this event invites audiences to witness two masters dreaming together across centuries and language, in a rare theatrical convergence for our time, and with additional guest performances by visitors from Fuzhou.

Please note the lecture starts at 4.00 p.m. but all those attending on site or online are welcome to join us for the performance of ‘Parallel Poets’ from 3.00 p.m.

Car parking is not available at The Shakespeare Institute, except for wheelchair users. If you need to arrange this, please phone The Shakespeare Institute on 0121 414 9500.

> Book your Shakespeare Birthday Lecture 2026 tickets.