Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Shakespeare goes around the world


Francesca Martin
Wednesday April 2, 2008
guardian.co.uk


More than 35 simultaneous performances of plays by Shakespeare are to take place around the world on April 23 to mark his 444th birthday. The shows - which include a Russian production of Much Ado About Nothing, featuring a mail-order bride, and a Serbian version of Romeo and Juliet - will all be performed by youth groups at 7pm, starting in New Zealand and ending in Hawaii. Among several British groups taking part are the National Youth Theatre, who will perform a version of Measure for Measure, abridged by the playwright Jamila Gavin, at the Liverpool Playhouse. According to Gavin: "The idea that young people around the world would be performing Shakespeare's plays in one international festival was too good an opportunity to miss. It reinforces how relevant he is to all ages in any time or place."

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