STEP INTO SHAKESPEARE’S SHOES AS PART OF A BRAND NEW SELF-GUIDED TOUR
STEP INTO
SHAKESPEARE’S SHOES AS PART OF A BRAND NEW SELF-GUIDED TOUR
The Royal Shakespeare Company has commissioned a brand new self-guided tour to
mark the 400th anniversary
of Shakespeare’s death. Shakespeare Steps is devised by Birmingham based theatre
company Stan’s Cafe and invites people to follow in the footsteps of the
world’s most famous playwright. The Steps series has been seen around the
world, with editions in Birmingham and London to celebrate the 2012 Olympics,
as well as Montpellier and Los Angeles.
The free
self-guided tour, which involves eight locations, will run alongside
Stratford’s historic spine. At each stop visitors can follow footsteps and
speech bubbles painted on pavements that work as instructions for acting out
mini dramas. The self-guided tour is inspired by Shakespeare’s Seven Ages of
Man speech from As You Like It and brings to life aspects of
Shakespeare’s plays, his life in Stratford and historical facts about the town. The tour launches on 30 January and a
free map will also be available to guide visitors, give them historical
background and will also feature a treasure hunt challenge for children.
In
association with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Shakespeare’s Schoolroom
& Guildhall and supported by the Stratford Society and Guild Chapel -
Shakespeare Steps starts at Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Some of the locations
include Shakespeare’s New Place, Guildhall, and Holy Trinity Church before
finishing at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Installation
will start in early January and non-toxic, biodegradable paint will be used for
all illustrations.
Louisa Davies, RSC Events Manager, said: “Shakespeare Steps is a great way for
people to enjoy exploring the town where Shakespeare was born, educated and is
buried in an interactive playful way, throughout the 400th anniversary year. Visitors can cast
themselves in this DIY theatre game, act out scenes, and discover fun and
quirky facts about Stratford-upon-Avon along the way.”
James Yarker, Artistic Director at Stan’s Cafe, said: “We
were delighted to be asked to make Shakespeare Steps. Shakespeare’s life, his
plays and his connection to Stratford-upon-Avon are such rich sources, our
challenge was how to compress as much as possible into just eight miniature
scenes. There are lots of quotations and historical references for people to
find in the scenes. They are designed so they can be enjoyed by passers-by but
they only fully come alive when people start playing with them, putting their
feet in the character’s footprints and puzzling out the action, ideally with a
friend or two.
“We hope that
people will have fun with Shakespeare Steps and that for the year it is here it
enhances people’s enjoyment and is an accessible way into families learning
more about this amazing town.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
Press
release issued: 17 December 2015
For
RSC media enquiries or to set-up a photo opportunity please contact RSC Press
and Communications Officer Nurinder Mantell,nurinder.mantell@rsc.org.uk 01789 412657/ 07920 541729. Press are invited to take a photo
of Shakespeare Steps at
Shakespeare’s Birthplace on Tuesday, January 26 at 11am.
Shakespeare Steps launches on 30 January 2016. For more information
visit www.rsc.org.uk/shakespearesteps
The Royal Shakespeare Company creates theatre at its best, made in
Stratford-upon-Avon and shared around the world. We produce an
inspirational artistic programme each year, setting Shakespeare in context,
alongside the work of his contemporaries and today’s writers.
Everyone
at the RSC - from actors to armourers, musicians to technicians - plays a part
in creating the world you see on stage. All our productions begin life at
our Stratford workshops and theatres and we bring them to the widest possible
audience through our touring, residencies, live broadcasts and online activity.
So wherever you experience the RSC, you experience work made in Shakespeare’s
home town.
We
have trained generations of the very best theatre makers and we continue to
nurture the talent of the future. We encourage everyone to enjoy a lifelong
relationship with Shakespeare and live theatre. We reach 530,000 children
and young people annually through our education work, transforming their
experiences in the classroom, in performance and online. Registered
charity no. 212481 www.rsc.org.uk.
Stan’s Cafe is an internationally acclaimed
theatre company with a penchant for creating inventive and mind-stretching
productions using a variety of art forms. The company has been devising and
touring highly original theatre around the world from its base in Birmingham
since 1991.
Along
with a core of long term collaborators and associate artists, Artistic Director
James Yarker experiments with theatrical techniques to create a catalogue of
work as vast in its subject matter as its number. Stan’s Cafe’s works include
the thought-provoking and overwhelming Of
All The People In All The World, the exhilarating study of power The Cleansing of Constance Brown and the sci-fi docudrama Home of the Wriggler. www.stanscafe.co.uk
