Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-04-20
THE SHAkESPEREAN
TERCENTENARY IN
GREAT BRITAIN
Widespread Celebration in Spite
of Wars Interfering with
More Ambitious
Plans.

London April 1s.-There will be wide
spread celebration of the Shakespeare
tercentenary. Notwithstanding that war
has interfered with the more ambitious
plans outlined by the committee two
years ago
April % equivalent to May 8 under
the new style calendar) will be the CEN
trail date in the cerebration. On that
day 500 years ago the great dramatist
died at Stratford- on-Avon. His exact
birth date is more obscure, but there is
some ground for believing that he was
also born on April 49, although the date
may have been anywhere between April
q and May 4. Of the year 1864.
Tho national tercentenary committee
under the patronage of the King and
queen, has arranged for Shakespeare
services in practically all the churches
/ of tho kingdom on April 90 with the
| principal service in Westminster Abbey.
on Monday May /, a meeting will be
held in the Mansion house, with an ad-
dress, 1t is hoped, by the prime minis-
ter and other speeches by various mo-
tables celebrating the national memory
of the poet.
! On May ?. there will be n gala perform
ance of Julius Caesar under royal patron
age at the Drury Lane theatre, with ali
the great English Shakespearean stars as
actors.
May will he celebrated in the schools
as Shakespeare day. On the same day.
! Prof John w. Mackail of oxford will
deliver the annual Shakespeare lecture at
the British Academy and a national com
mittee will meet to arrange for a perma-
nent memorial of the occasion In behalf
! of the school children Of the nation. On
Friday, the 5th, pilgrimage takes place
| to Stafford ON Avon, whore the chief
actors of the day will give a perform
ance of scenes from Shakespearean dra-
mas at the Memorial theatre.
In London, n series of Memorial lectures
will be given by Sidney Lee at London
/ University beginning March II, while a
similar course will be given at Gresham
College by Prof. Foster Watson.
! The London Shakespeare League has
arranged for the unveilng of a memorial
in Curtain road to mark the site Of Shake
speare's theatre in Shoreditch. Under
the same auspices there will he lectures
on Shakespeare and n reading of Hamlet
by Ben Greet Mr.. Greet is also to be in
charge of the presentation of 20 Shake
speare plays at popular prices in the old
Victoria hall
The British Empire Shapespeare So
ciety will strike commemorative
medallion likeness which will go to all
parts of the world
! Several of the London boroughs will
! have celebrations of their own, Hamp-
stead, for example. will have a series
of lectures and readings. under the
Craftsmanship of the mayor.
The national committee is preparing
"A Book of Homage" which will CON
tain tributes to the poet from various
corners of the globe.
At Stratford- on Avon there will be
a fortnight of Shakespearean perform
ances, and long series of special cele-
brations. including a procession to
Shakespcare's church and decoration
of the tomb in the chanCcl
oxford is to have a tercentenary OK
hibition at Bodley's library, opening
/ ON April "a. Manchester has a commit
tee of its own which has arranged an
elaborate series of lectures, recitals
performances of songs, prize competi-
tons, and exhibitions. A permanent
memorial will be provided at Manches
ter in the form Of a hakespeare gar
den. laid out on lines parallel to that
at Stratford -on-Avon