THE world’s most famous playwright, William Shakespeare, is very much alive in Stratford–upon-Avon almost 400 years after his death.
CONCENTRATED: The statue of a man in deep thoughts in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The town is breathing and living the man. Every nook and cranny bears some form of tribute to the man, be it a statue or a name of a shop or street.
Shakespeare is the most glorified man, in fact, most revered and even more so than the Queen – that is within the perimeter of the town. This is as it should be since the picturesque town is the birthplace and the burial site of the great playwright. It’s one of the most visited places in England and Shakespeare himself draws about three million tourists yearly.
Located on the River Avon, hence, the name, Stratford, which is in south Warwickshire, England, about 22 miles southeast of Birmingham, eight miles southwest of Warwick and 102 miles from London. The town is accessible by rail and coaches.
A tall statue of a man sitting on a chair, atop a tall pedestal can be seen from afar. That’s the playwright himself and he is flanked by life size statues of the main characters of his play – Lady Macbeth, Prince Hal, Hamlet, Henry V and Falstaff. These represent Philosophy, Tragedy, History and Comedy.
This is the Gower Memorial, a tribute to the great playwright, located in the beautiful Bancroft Gardens which runs along River Avon. Next to the garden is Bancroft, a park where the public can enjoy the idyllic landscape of willow branches swaying in the breeze over the River Avon.
Along the River, swans glide gracefully across the mirror surface. As visitors take to feeding them, throwing pieces of bread, these birds dip their heads into the water, picking up the sinking crumbs.
It’s rather therapeutic and calming, sitting by the River, watching the swans and having a fascination for these graceful birds, I could not help joining the crowd in feeding these majestic feathered animals. It is something tourists do, something I must partake.
The lawn across the park was speckled with little dots of white daisies as these burst out in early Spring and pigeons flutter away, busy pecking up the feed thrown by visitors.
Classical theatre
The Shakespearean feel deepens as one visits the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) next to the Bancroft. It’s reputed to be the world’s most famous classical theatre and catching a play there is a must if the steep price does not deter you.
It’s an experience not to be missed – an experience worth every penny as I found out. Seeing the playwright’s work played out right on the stage in his hometown and by his own people is the nearest thing one could actually have of the legendary writer. Watching his play made him real.
Totally immersed in the ambiance (King Lear was played out that night), I was thrust into the Shakespearean world. It was surreal.