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Shakespeare Day 2025 is on Wednesday, April 23rd. This day marks the traditional birthday of William Shakespeare, and also his death day. Twinkl notes that it is a day to celebrate the renowned playwright.

Elaboration:

While the exact birth date of William Shakespeare is unknown, it is widely believed he was born on April 23, 1564, and died on the same date in 1616.
Shakespeare’s baptism was recorded on April 26, 1564, which was common practice at the time, three days after birth.
Shakespeare Day is celebrated annually on April 23rd.
In 2025, April 23rd falls on a Wednesday.
Twinkl suggests celebrating with a day off-timetable to delve into Shakespeare’s works and life.

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Global Tapestry: Shakespeare’s First Folio and April 23rd Celebrations Worldwide

I. Introduction

William Shakespeare’s enduring legacy continues to be celebrated globally through a vibrant array of events, exhibitions, performances, and educational initiatives. Two significant focal points for this worldwide engagement are the commemoration of William Shakespeare Day on April 23rd – the date traditionally observed as both his birth and death day – and the recognition of the monumental importance of the 1623 First Folio, the first collected edition of his plays. Without the First Folio, compiled by his friends and fellow actors John Heminges and Henry Condell seven years after his death, eighteen of Shakespeare’s plays, including masterpieces like Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, and The Tempest, might have been lost forever. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse activities undertaken worldwide in honor of Shakespeare Day and the First Folio, drawing on information from major institutions, festivals, libraries, museums, educational programs, and digital platforms. It examines the nature of these celebrations, the display and accessibility of the First Folio itself, the scope of live performances and film screenings, the breadth of educational outreach, and the growing landscape of online resources dedicated to the Bard.

II. Celebrating the Bard: Shakespeare Day (April 23rd) Events

April 23rd serves as a global anchor for celebrating William Shakespeare. While the exact date of his birth in 1564 remains unconfirmed (church records show his baptism on April 26th), tradition holds April 23rd as his birthday, coinciding definitively with the date of his death in 1616. This dual significance imbues the day with a unique resonance, marked by events ranging from solemn remembrances to joyous public festivities.

A. Major Institutional Celebrations

Leading Shakespearean institutions host significant annual events around April 23rd, often becoming cherished traditions.

Folger Shakespeare Library (Washington, D.C., USA): The Folger hosts a large-scale, family-friendly “Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebration.” The 2025 event, marking Shakespeare’s 461st year, is scheduled for Saturday, April 19th, beginning at 11 am. Activities are designed to be accessible and engaging, showcasing the breadth of the Folger’s offerings. Guests can participate in Elizabethan ruff-making, watch sword-fighting and printing press demonstrations, write sonnets, learn Elizabethan dance and music, engage with gallery guides, and enjoy birthday cake. The celebration aims not only to highlight Shakespeare’s cultural impact but also to intentionally build community and foster dialogue through the humanities. The day culminates with the free annual Shakespeare’s Birthday Lecture, delivered in 2025 by Folger Director Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper on the topic “Shakespeare Beyond Relevance,” exploring the urgent need for Shakespeare and the humanities in the contemporary world. The Folger also provides resources for individuals to celebrate independently, suggesting activities like reading passages aloud, staging scenes, recreating Shakespearean poses, cooking Elizabethan-inspired meals, or writing sonnets.
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT) (Stratford-upon-Avon, UK): The SBT leverages Shakespeare’s hometown for its annual birthday celebrations, often incorporating unique themes. The 2025 celebration (Saturday, April 26th) focuses on “The Women Who Made Shakespeare,” the second year of a multi-year project. Festivities on Henley Street include free, all-ages artistic workshops and a unique silent disco where participants can dance to playlists inspired by Shakespeare’s female characters, featuring artists from Taylor Swift to the Spice Girls. Associated events include a public conference (April 25th) with academics and actors discussing Shakespeare’s women, and the annual Birthday Lecture delivered by Dame Harriet Walters (April 25th, 4-5 pm). Past celebrations have included opportunities to sign the visitor’s book at Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Shakespearian dressing-up, Tudor midwifery talks, concerts featuring new choral settings of Shakespeare, appearances by large-scale figures like Lady Godiva, lectures by prominent directors like Michael Bogdanov, and marathon readings by the resident acting troupe, Shakespeare Aloud!. The SBT emphasizes community engagement and making Shakespeare’s legacy accessible and inspiring for all visitors. Their ongoing programming includes special activities in the Birthplace garden and online events like talks on performing Shakespeare’s women. The RSC also holds birthday celebrations in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 26, 2025, including “Speaking Shakespeare Workshops”.

B. Diverse Community and Institutional Festivities

Beyond the Folger and SBT, numerous other organizations and communities mark Shakespeare Day with special events.

Theatrical Performances: Many theatre companies schedule performances or special events around April 23rd. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s 2025 calendar shows multiple productions running on April 23rd, including As You Like It and Fat Ham, alongside pre-show “Preface” talks. The American Shakespeare Center hosts a “Week of Shakespearean Shenanigans” (April 21-27, 2025) encompassing workshops, tours, and events like #Shakespearaoke to celebrate the birthday. Chicago Shakespeare Theater, instrumental in founding “Talk Like Shakespeare Day” , often holds tributes; while specific 2025 birthday events weren’t detailed in available materials, their schedule includes performances around the date. Bell Shakespeare in Australia scheduled a “Play in a Day” reading of King John specifically for Shakespeare’s birthday (April 23, 2025). Prague Shakespeare Company has performances of Macbeth and Hamlet: We Are Hamlet scheduled around April 23rd and 26th, 2025, in Prague and Gdansk.
University Celebrations: Academic institutions frequently organize events. The University of Pennsylvania held a “First Folio Day” on April 23, 2023, featuring student performances of Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Twelfth Night, readings by sonnet contest winners, a display of the first four Folios, and birthday cake. West Chester University hosted a multi-week “Fortnight of Festivities” in 2023, culminating on April 23rd with a Renaissance Fair and an outdoor performance of Twelfth Night alongside displays of their own First Folio. The University of Notre Dame holds an annual “Sonnetfest” on April 23rd, featuring a daylong reading of all 154 sonnets. Washington University in St. Louis held a “Shakespeare Day” in 2024 with performances, panel discussions, and technology demonstrations linked to their exhibitions.

C. “Talk Like Shakespeare Day” and Related Observances

Coinciding with Shakespeare Day on April 23rd is the more lighthearted “National Talk Like Shakespeare Day.”

Origin and Premise: Launched in 2009 by the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, inspired by “Talk Like a Pirate Day,” this observance encourages people to incorporate Shakespearean language into their everyday speech. It gained official recognition in Illinois in 2011.
How to Participate: Suggestions include substituting modern pronouns with “thee,” “thou,” and “ye”; adding the suffix “-eth” to verbs (e.g., “runneth”); speaking in rhyming couplets; using Shakespearean interjections like “methinks” or “in sooth”; and employing creative insults or well-known phrases coined by the Bard. Online translators can assist.
Associated Activities: Events linked to the day include open mic sonnet slams (sometimes encouraging costumes) , improvisation classes focused on Shakespearean plays , dressing in costume, reciting sonnets, hosting themed movie nights, writing exercises in Shakespearean style , and school activities like performance competitions or insult duels.
Connections: The day explicitly ties into Shakespeare’s birthday and legacy. It also shares the date with UNESCO’s World Book and Copyright Day, World Book Night (UK/Ireland), Canada Book Day, and the UN’s English Language Day, placing it within a broader context of celebrating literature and language.

D. Global Reach and Common Elements

The celebration of Shakespeare Day extends across the globe, exhibiting common ceremonial and community-focused elements. Traditional observances, particularly in Stratford-upon-Avon, include pageants, processions led by civic dignitaries (often featuring costumed actors, Morris dancers, and schoolchildren), the ringing of church bells, and the laying of flowers on Shakespeare’s grave at Holy Trinity Church. Schools internationally often set aside time for students to learn about Shakespeare’s life and works. Public readings, theatrical performances, and community gatherings are widespread. International examples include the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival (USA), which incorporates birthday week events like film screenings, trivia nights, and workshops into its June festival , and the Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa, which times its May festival to follow Shakespeare Day.

The convergence of activities around April 23rd reveals its multifaceted significance. The date itself carries the weight of both Shakespeare’s likely birth and confirmed death , providing a potent historical anchor. Upon this foundation, major cultural institutions like the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust have built enduring annual traditions, transforming the date into a recurring landmark in their calendars. Furthermore, its alignment with other cultural markers such as St. George’s Day and UNESCO’s World Book Day amplifies its resonance. This confluence allows April 23rd to support a spectrum of engagement, from the solemnity of memorial tributes and scholarly discourse to the accessible fun of community festivals and popular initiatives like “Talk Like Shakespeare Day”. This layering demonstrates how a single date can function simultaneously as a touchstone for cultural heritage, an engine for scholarly exploration, and an inviting gateway for broad public participation.

III. The First Folio On View: Exhibitions, Collections, and Digital Access

Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, known as the First Folio, is not merely a book but a cultural artifact of immense significance. Published in 1623, it preserved 18 plays that might otherwise have vanished. Its rarity – only 235 copies are known to survive from an estimated print run of 750 – and its historical importance make its public display a noteworthy event, often tied to major anniversaries.

A. Landmark Exhibitions: Commemorating Milestones

Major anniversaries have spurred significant exhibition initiatives focused on the First Folio.

2016: “First Folio! The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare” Tour: Commemorating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the Folger Shakespeare Library organized an unprecedented tour, sending one of its original 1623 First Folios to all 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. This ambitious project, undertaken in partnership with the Cincinnati Museum Center and the American Library Association, received major funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Host venues included museums (23), universities (20), public libraries (5), historical societies (3), and a theater. The exhibition typically featured the Folio opened to Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” soliloquy, accompanied by a multi-panel display exploring Shakespeare’s significance, and supplemented by locally organized programming, such as lectures, performances, film festivals, and related artifact displays. The tour provided a rare opportunity for audiences across the U.S. to experience a tangible connection with this foundational book.
2023: Folio400 Celebrations: The 400th anniversary of the First Folio’s publication saw a global array of events and exhibitions under the Folio400 banner. Key exhibitions included:
- “Will’s Book, Shakespeare’s First Folio 400 years on” at the Deutsches Literartarchiv (DLA) in Marbach, Germany (in partnership with Shakespeare’s Globe), showcasing First, Second, Third, and Fourth Folios.
- “Shakespeare’s First Folios: A 400-year journey” at Senate House Library, London, tracing the Folio’s history and featuring one of their two copies.
- “Shakespeare’s First Folio: 400 Years On” at Shakespeare North Playhouse, featuring a First Folio on loan from the British Library.
- “Thou Art Translated” at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, displaying a First Folio alongside translations in over 100 languages.
- A special exhibition at Christie’s, London, bringing together six rarely seen First Folios from various collections.
- “To The Great Variety of Readers: Celebrating 400 years of Shakespeare’s First Folio” at Shakespeare’s New Place (SBT), featuring the Ashburnham Folio and related artifacts.
- “From Stage to Page: 400 Years of Shakespeare in Print” at The Frick Pittsburgh (in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University), presenting a rare opportunity to see all four 17th-century Folios together.
- A special installation and curator talks at The Huntington Library.
- Numerous other institutions across the UK and Ireland, including Guildhall Library, Sir John Soane’s Museum, the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle, Eton College, King’s College Cambridge, Queen’s College and Wadham College Oxford, Winchester College, Longleat House, Birmingham Central Library (touring its Folio), the National Library of Scotland, University of Glasgow, and Mount Stuart Trust, displayed their copies, often on Folio Day (April 23, 2023) or for extended periods. An international conference in St Omer, France, also featured its discovered First Folio.

B. Current and Upcoming Exhibitions (Focus on 2025)

While major anniversary years see a peak in exhibitions, some displays are ongoing or planned for the near future.

Durham University: “Shakespeare Recovered” (April 4 – November 2, 2025): This significant exhibition at Palace Green Library in Durham focuses on the university’s unique First Folio, which was stolen in 1998 and recovered a decade later, albeit badly damaged. The exhibition explores this dramatic history, the conservation challenges and debates (e.g., rebinding), and the cutting-edge scientific analysis being used to study the damaged book. Techniques like spectroscopy and infrared imaging are revealing hidden details, including centuries-old doodles. The damage itself allows for unique viewing opportunities, with multiple pages visible side-by-side. The exhibition includes interactive elements related to conservation and handmade replicas showing the Folio’s original appearance.
Ongoing/Potential Displays: Several institutions house First Folios within permanent or semi-permanent displays. The Folger Shakespeare Library, upon its reopening, includes exhibition galleries where Folios might be displayed. Shakespeare’s Globe displays the “Munro” copy (on loan from a private owner) in its foyer throughout the year. The British Library’s Sir John Ritblat Treasures Gallery often includes a First Folio , although specific 2025 confirmation is pending. Similarly, institutions like The Huntington Library and the New York Public Library possess Folios and may include them in general collection displays, but specific 2025 plans require verification. The Royal Shakespeare Company’s “The Play’s The Thing” exhibition in Stratford-upon-Avon features a First Folio. Multnomah County Library (Oregon, USA) hosted a “Shakespeare’s First Folio: 1623–2023” exhibition in its Collins Gallery from April 6 to May 19, 2024.

C. Institutions Holding First Folios

The largest collection of First Folios resides at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C., which holds 82 copies. Other significant institutional holders mentioned in the research include: Meisei University (Japan), University of Pennsylvania, Miami University (Ohio) , The Huntington Library (California) , Newberry Library (Chicago) , Bodleian Libraries (University of Oxford) , British Library , Senate House Library (University of London, 2 copies) , the Royal Collection Trust (Windsor Castle) , Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) , National Library of Scotland , University of Glasgow , Mount Stuart Trust (Scotland) , Durham University , West Chester University , Carnegie Mellon University , University of California Irvine , City of London Corporation (Guildhall Library) , Sir John Soane’s Museum , Eton College , King’s College Cambridge , Queen’s College Oxford , Wadham College Oxford , Winchester College , Longleat House , Birmingham Central Library , and the Bibliothèque d’agglomération du pays de St Omer (France). Public access to these copies typically depends on specific exhibitions or requires special arrangements for research purposes.

D. Digital Access and Online Exhibitions

Complementing physical displays, digital access to the First Folio is expanding significantly.

Digitized Copies: High-resolution digital facsimiles are increasingly available online. The Folger offers its Copy 5 via its Digital Image Collection and as a downloadable PDF, which includes scholarly essays. Senate House Library has fully digitized both its Durning-Lawrence and Sterling copies. Other digitized Folios accessible online include those from Meisei University, the University of Pennsylvania (Furness Collection), and Miami University of Ohio.
Online Exhibitions and Resources: Many institutions supplement physical exhibitions with online content or create standalone digital exhibits. The Folger provides excerpts from past exhibitions online and features an interactive “Inside the First Folio” tool allowing users to virtually flip through pages and explore annotations. Carnegie Mellon offered a 360 virtual tour of its “From Stage to Page” exhibition. The Bodleian Library maintained an online presence for its “Thou Art Translated” exhibition. UC Irvine Libraries created an online exhibit, “400 Years of Shakespeare’s First Folio,” exploring its history, influences, and impact. National initiatives like the Folger’s 2016 tour also had dedicated websites with resources. While the British Library, Huntington, and NYPL possess Folios, confirmation of specific online digitized versions or exhibitions requires checking their current resources.

The First Folio thus occupies a fascinating dual position in the 21st century. It remains a revered, high-value physical object, its rarity drawing crowds to major exhibitions and cultural sites, offering a tangible link to Shakespeare’s time. Simultaneously, the concerted efforts of libraries and cultural heritage institutions to digitize these volumes are creating a parallel digital existence. This digital accessibility serves crucial functions: preserving the fragile originals, enabling remote scholarly analysis, facilitating digital humanities research, and offering unprecedented access to a global public. Online platforms further enrich this access, providing virtual tours, interactive explorations, and contextual information that complement physical encounters. This hybrid reality, blending the aura of the physical artifact with the democratic reach of the digital surrogate, represents the evolving future of engagement with seminal works like the First Folio.

IV. Shakespeare Live: Global Performances and Festivals

Live performance remains the most direct way to experience the vitality of Shakespeare’s work. Around the world, theatre companies and festivals dedicate significant resources to staging his plays, often with special attention given to works preserved by the First Folio, particularly during commemorative periods like Shakespeare Day.

A. Major Companies and Folio-Focused Programming

Several internationally renowned companies are central to the ongoing performance of Shakespeare.

Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC): Based in Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon , the RSC mounted a significant Folio400 season in 2023, presenting five plays that would have been lost without the Folio: The Tempest, Julius Caesar, Cymbeline, As You Like It, and Macbeth. Their programming continues year-round, and they typically hold Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebrations (scheduled for April 26, 2025) featuring workshops and potentially performances. In July 2023, the King and Queen hosted a reception celebrating the Folio’s 400th anniversary, featuring performances by RSC actors including Dame Harriet Walter and Sir Simon Russell Beale, specifically highlighting scenes from plays saved by the Folio.
Shakespeare’s Globe (London): Situated near the site of the original Globe, this company is renowned for its historically informed performance practices. Their seasons regularly feature Shakespearean works, and they participated in the Folio400 celebrations with productions of Folio-saved plays in 2023.
Stratford Festival (Canada): This major North American festival presents a lengthy season (typically April-October) featuring multiple Shakespeare plays alongside other works. Their programming often includes plays from the Folio, such as Cymbeline in 2024 , and incorporates academic forums discussing the Folio and related topics. Their 2025 calendar is available online, though specific April performance details should be confirmed closer to the date.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Ashland, USA): OSF boasts an extensive repertory season. On Shakespeare Day, April 23, 2025, their schedule includes performances of As You Like It (a Folio play) at 1:30 PM, August Wilson’s Jitney at 1:30 PM, The Importance of Being Earnest at 8:00 PM, and Fat Ham at 8:00 PM. Pre-show “Preface” talks for As You Like It and The Importance of Being Earnest are also scheduled. Julius Caesar (another Folio play) is also part of the 2025 season, running around this time.
American Shakespeare Center (Staunton, USA): Performing in the replica Blackfriars Playhouse , ASC’s 2025 season features King Lear and The Comedy of Errors (both Folio plays) running until mid-April. They host a dedicated Shakespeare’s Birthday Festival week (April 21-27, 2025) featuring workshops, tours, and special events.
Other Notable Companies: Numerous other companies contribute significantly. Examples include: the Atlanta Shakespeare Company, which commissions new works related to Shakespeare ; Baltimore Shakespeare Factory and Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, presenting classic productions ; Chicago Shakespeare Theater, with a robust year-round schedule ; Bell Shakespeare (Sydney, Australia), offering productions and special events like their “Play In A Day” reading of King John on April 23, 2025 ; the Prague Shakespeare Company (Czech Republic), performing internationally and scheduling Macbeth and Hamlet around Shakespeare Day 2025 ; the Artscape Theatre Centre (Cape Town, South Africa), staging Hamlet in April 2025 ; and the York Shakespeare Project (UK), performing Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3 during the York International Shakespeare Festival in April 2025.

B. Global Shakespeare Festivals

Dedicated Shakespeare festivals provide concentrated periods of performance and related activities across the globe.

Europe: Key European festivals include the Gdansk Shakespeare Festival (Poland, summer), International Shakespeare Festival Craiova (Romania, May), York International Shakespeare Festival (UK, late April/early May 2025), Shakespeare Festival at Globe Neuss (Germany), Summer Shakespeare Festival Prague (Czech Republic), Verona Shakespeare Festival & Fringe (Italy, summer), Itaka Shakespeare Festival (Serbia, July), Shakespeare Festival at Hamlet’s Castle (Helsingør, Denmark, August), Gyula Shakespeare Festival (Hungary, July), and Festival Shakespeare de Barcelona (Spain, March 2025).
North America: Prominent festivals include the Stratford Festival (Canada, April-October) , Oregon Shakespeare Festival (USA, Spring-Fall) , Utah Shakespeare Festival (USA, Summer/Fall, associated with the Wooden O Symposium in August 2025) , South Dakota Shakespeare Festival (USA, June 2025, incorporating birthday week elements) , and the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival (Kansas City, USA, hosting a “ShakesBEER” fundraising event on April 21, 2025).
Asia: The Yerevan International Shakespeare Theater Festival (Armenia) typically occurs in October.
Africa: The Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa takes place in Cape Town, with the 2025 festival scheduled for May.

C. Special Readings and Performances

Beyond full productions, diverse performance formats engage audiences with Shakespeare’s text.

Sonnet Marathons: These events involve reading all 154 sonnets, often on Shakespeare’s birthday. Irondale Theatre (Brooklyn, USA) hosted a notable virtual 456-minute marathon for Shakespeare’s 456th birthday in 2020, streamed online and featuring celebrity guests like Ralph Fiennes and Rufus Wainwright alongside community members. The University of Notre Dame holds an annual Sonnetfest on campus on April 23rd.
Play Readings: Script-in-hand readings offer accessible ways to experience less-frequently performed plays. Bell Shakespeare’s “Play in a Day” series, featuring King John on April 23, 2025, exemplifies this format. Participatory reading groups, like the one led by Carl Steidtmann focusing on Othello or the weekly group at Rogers Free Library , allow enthusiasts to engage directly with the text aloud.
Performance and Scholarship: Some events explicitly blend performance with academic insight. Senate House Library’s “Bringing the Book Alive” evening featured readings by actors like Samantha Bond and David Horovitch interspersed with contemporary poetic responses and followed by exhibition tours.

The centrality of performance in celebrating Shakespeare underscores the nature of his work as living drama. Anniversaries and Shakespeare Day serve as catalysts for staging these plays, with companies often highlighting works preserved by the First Folio during commemorative periods. Global festivals concentrate this activity, while diverse formats like readings and sonnet marathons provide varied entry points for both professional artists and the wider community. Ultimately, performance functions not just as entertainment but as a crucial mechanism for interpreting Shakespeare for new generations and fostering communal engagement with his enduring texts, especially around the symbolically rich date of April 23rd.

V. Shakespeare on Screen: Film Showings and Broadcasts

Film adaptations, recorded performances, and documentaries provide another significant avenue for accessing Shakespeare’s works and learning about his world, often integrated into broader celebrations.

A. Festival Components

Film screenings frequently feature as components of larger Shakespeare-focused festivals or institutional events. The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival, for instance, explicitly includes a Shakespeare film screening as part of its weeklong activities in June. Portland State University’s 2023-24 Folio celebration included Shakespeare on Film events. Similarly, the University of Connecticut’s programming around the 2016 First Folio tour included a festival of Shakespeare in film and popular culture.

B. Dedicated Screenings

Cinemas, arts centers, and cultural organizations sometimes schedule specific Shakespearean film screenings, particularly around April 23rd or during relevant seasons.

Cinema Programs: The Lark Theater in Larkspur, California, scheduled multiple Shakespeare-related screenings on April 23, 2025: National Theatre Live’s Hamlet, Orson Welles’ Chimes At Midnight (Falstaff), and the recent stage production of Macbeth starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo. Other independent cinemas like the Cinema Arts Centre (Huntington, NY) , Bryn Mawr Film Institute (Pennsylvania) , and the Pierre Theatre Film Club (South Dakota) show classic and art films, potentially including Shakespeare adaptations, though specific April 2025 Shakespeare titles were not listed in the provided snippets for these venues. Industry events like CinemaCon (March/April 2025) focus on upcoming releases but don’t typically feature classic Shakespeare screenings.
Cultural Initiatives: Programs like the British Council’s “Shakespeare Lives” initiative (commemorating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death in 2016) utilized free film screenings for global outreach, such as showing a Shakespeare’s Globe production of Twelfth Night (starring Mark Rylance) in Botswana.

C. Broadcasts and Documentaries

Television broadcasts of stage performances and documentaries related to Shakespeare and the First Folio also contribute to accessibility. The Folio400 celebrations in 2023 included the broadcast of the documentary ‘Will’s Book: Shakespeare’s First Folio’ on Sky Arts and the BBC’s multi-platform season featuring the series ‘Shakespeare: Rise of a Genius’.

Film and broadcast serve as powerful, accessible media for experiencing Shakespearean drama and exploring its context. Adaptations and recorded performances bring the plays to audiences who may not have access to live theatre, while documentaries offer insights into Shakespeare’s life, the historical significance of texts like the First Folio, and the ongoing process of interpretation. The integration of screenings into festivals and institutional events, alongside dedicated cinema programming and international cultural outreach, highlights the complementary role film plays alongside live performance and exhibitions in disseminating Shakespeare’s legacy.

VI. Learning Shakespeare: Educational Programs, Lectures, and Symposia

Education, in its broadest sense, is fundamental to the perpetuation of Shakespeare’s legacy. Programming ranges from K-12 resources and community workshops to public lectures and specialized academic conferences, reflecting a deep commitment by institutions worldwide to foster understanding and appreciation of the Bard.

A. Academic Conferences and Symposia

High-level scholarly exchange occurs at numerous conferences dedicated to Shakespeare and the early modern period.

Major Associations: The Shakespeare Association of America (SAA) holds large annual meetings (Boston, March 2025) featuring dozens of seminars, panels, and workshops on diverse critical and theoretical approaches. The European Shakespeare Research Association (ESRA) collaborates internationally and sponsors events. The Italian Association of Shakespearean and Early Modern Studies (IASEMS) hosts graduate conferences, such as the 2022 Florence event focused specifically on the First Folio, leading to published proceedings. The British Shakespeare Association also holds major conferences (York, June 2025).
Themed Symposia: Specific symposia often focus on particular plays, themes, or anniversaries. Examples include the “First Folio at 400: The Linguistic Legacies of Early Modern Times” conference (Bergamo, 2023) , the annual Wooden O Symposium associated with the Utah Shakespeare Festival (August 2025, focusing on the season’s plays like Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra) , the BritGrad Conference (Stratford-upon-Avon, June 2025) , Texas A&M University’s “Folio Futures: Editing Early Modern Plays” symposium (celebrating the New Variorum Shakespeare and the Folio anniversary) , Trinity College Dublin’s “Shakespeare the Irishman” symposium (April 2025, linked to Folio 400 events) , and Campion College’s (Australia) “Shakespeare & Philosophy” Symposium (September 2025).

B. Public Lectures and Talks

Accessible scholarly talks are offered by many institutions, often linked to specific events or exhibitions.

Institutional Lectures: Annual events include the Folger Shakespeare Library’s Birthday Lecture and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s Birthday Lecture. The Folger Institute also hosts regular “Folger Salons” where fellows discuss their research.
Event-Specific Talks: Major anniversaries and exhibitions frequently feature public lectures by leading scholars, such as Professor Emma Smith’s Folio400 lecture at Shakespeare’s Globe , lectures accompanying the Stratford Festival Canada season , curator talks during the Huntington Library’s 2023 Folio installation , lectures associated with exhibitions at the Bodleian Library and Senate House Library , panel discussions during Washington University’s Shakespeare Day , and speaker series like the one at Portland State University for their Folio celebration. The National Library of Israel offered online lectures for Folio400.

C. Workshops and Masterclasses

Hands-on workshops provide practical engagement with Shakespearean text, performance, and related crafts.

Performance & Craft: The Folger’s Birthday Celebration includes workshops on ruff-making and sonnet writing. The SBT’s 2025 celebration features creative writing and string printing workshops inspired by Shakespeare’s women. Washington University offered workshops in calligraphy and bookbinding techniques relevant to Shakespeare’s time. Portland State University hosted workshops on acting and historical food. The RSC offers “Speaking Shakespeare” workshops. Bell Shakespeare runs workshops alongside its performances. The York International Shakespeare Festival included workshops on Shakespearean dance and adapting Hamlet. The American Shakespeare Center incorporates workshops into its Birthday Festival week. Irondale Theatre’s Sonnet Marathon invited active participation.
Intensive Training: More in-depth training is available through programs like the Prague Shakespeare Company’s Summer and Winter Intensives, offering multi-week training in acting, text analysis, voice, movement, stage combat, and incorporating tours and performance opportunities in the UK, Italy, Austria, and Germany.

D. K-12 and Community Educational Resources

Significant effort is directed towards making Shakespeare accessible to younger audiences and the broader community.

School Resources: Institutions provide resources for educators, such as Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s detailed Teacher Handbooks (e.g., for A Midsummer Night’s Dream) including activities and discussion prompts. The SBT offers educational materials for home learning, covering topics like early modern theatre, actors, and cue scripts. UConn planned workshops for high school teachers during its 2016 Folio exhibition. National Talk Like Shakespeare Day resources are available for classrooms. Introducing Shakespeare through accessible retellings and family-friendly film adaptations is also a common strategy.
Youth & Community Programs: The Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa engages numerous school drama groups in performing abridged plays. The American Shakespeare Center runs intensive Theatre Camps for young actors, focusing on performance skills and specific plays. The Folger emphasizes family-forward programming for its Birthday Celebration and offers family workshops. The York International Shakespeare Festival included a children’s theatre performance by Hoglets Theatre. The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival runs summer camps like “Camp Shakespeare” and “Shakespeare Exploration”. Notre Dame’s Shakespeare programming includes community performances like ShakeScenes and outreach to correctional facilities.

E. Online Courses and Webinars

Digital platforms increasingly host educational content.

Virtual Seminars & Courses: The Folger Consort offers virtual Early Music Seminars related to their performance seasons. The University of Oxford’s English Faculty runs an ongoing Shakespeare Webinar Series covering individual plays with various scholars. Shakespeare’s Globe has hosted free Anti-Racist Shakespeare webinars discussing Folio plays through contemporary lenses. The University of Notre Dame collaborates with ThinkND on the “Shakespeare & Possibility” online series.

The sheer breadth and depth of these educational activities demonstrate that learning is a core component of engaging with Shakespeare’s legacy. From specialized academic debates at international conferences to hands-on craft workshops for families at birthday celebrations , the goal is to transmit knowledge, foster appreciation, and stimulate new research across all levels of expertise. Educational programs are frequently interwoven with performances and exhibitions, creating richer, multi-layered experiences. Anniversaries and Shakespeare Day often serve as focal points for special lectures, symposia, and workshops , while the growing availability of online courses and webinars extends educational reach globally. This commitment ensures that Shakespeare remains not just a figure of historical interest, but a subject of active learning and ongoing discovery.

VII. The Bard Online: Digital Humanities and Virtual Resources

The digital realm has become an indispensable space for accessing, studying, and experiencing Shakespeare, complementing and expanding upon traditional physical resources.

A. Digitized Texts and Collections

Access to primary source materials has been revolutionized by digitization.

First Folios Online: As previously noted, high-quality digital versions of the First Folio are increasingly available from institutions like the Folger Shakespeare Library (Copy 5, with downloadable PDF and essays), Senate House Library (both copies), Meisei University, University of Pennsylvania, and Miami University of Ohio.
Other Early Texts: Beyond the Folio, libraries are digitizing other crucial early modern materials. Quarto editions of Shakespeare’s plays, which often present different versions of the texts, are sometimes displayed alongside Folios (e.g., Guildhall Library ) and are available in digital collections like the University of Pennsylvania’s Furness Shakespeare Library. Major research libraries like the British Library , Huntington Library , New York Public Library , and the Bodleian Libraries offer vast digital collections searchable via their online catalogs, potentially including promptbooks, manuscripts, and other relevant early modern books.
Digital Editions: Scholarly digital editions, such as the Folger Digital Texts, provide reliable, accessible versions of the plays and poems for reading and research.

B. Online Exhibitions and Virtual Tours

Digital platforms allow institutions to share their exhibitions and collections globally.

Virtual Exhibits: Libraries and museums create online exhibitions that parallel or extend physical displays. Examples include UC Irvine Libraries’ “400 Years of Shakespeare’s First Folio” online exhibit and the Folger’s online excerpts from past exhibitions. The online components of the Bodleian’s “Thou Art Translated” or the Folger’s 2016 First Folio tour provide lasting resources.
Virtual Tours: Some institutions offer virtual tours of exhibition spaces, such as Carnegie Mellon University’s 360-degree tour of their “From Stage to Page” exhibition featuring all four Folios.

C. Databases and Research Tools

The digital environment facilitates new forms of research and analysis.

Library Databases: Research libraries provide access to extensive online databases covering literature, history, and theatre studies, essential tools for Shakespearean scholarship.
Digital Humanities Projects: Innovative projects leverage technology for analysis and experience. Carnegie Mellon’s Shakespeare-VR project uses virtual reality to place users inside a reconstruction of the Blackfriars Playhouse to watch actors perform. While physical, the Hinman Collator, an optical-mechanical device for comparing printed texts (used extensively on Folios), represents an earlier technological approach to textual analysis, the results of which often inform digital scholarship.

D. Recorded Talks and Performances

A wealth of scholarly talks, lectures, webinars, and even performances are now archived and accessible online.

Recorded Content: Events like Senate House Library’s “Bringing the Book Alive” reading , the National Library of Israel’s Folio400 lecture series , the University of Oxford’s Shakespeare webinars , Irondale Theatre’s Sonnet Marathon , and Notre Dame’s ThinkND “Shakespeare & Possibility” series are often recorded and made available for later viewing, significantly extending their reach and lifespan.

The digital transformation offers a parallel Shakespearean universe, breaking down geographical barriers and democratizing access. Key primary sources like the First Folio are becoming globally accessible through digitization efforts by major institutions. Online exhibitions and virtual tours allow remote exploration of collections and physical displays. Furthermore, the archiving of academic lectures, webinars, and performances creates a vast repository of knowledge and artistic interpretation available on demand. Digital humanities projects are forging entirely new methods for analyzing texts and visualizing historical contexts. This expanding digital landscape is not merely a convenience; it fundamentally reshapes how Shakespeare is studied, taught, and experienced, fostering a more interconnected global community and ensuring the dynamic preservation and dissemination of his legacy in diverse formats.

VIII. Comprehensive Global Listing of Shakespearean Events and Resources

A. Introduction to the Table

The following table provides a categorized list summarizing over 100 key events, resources, exhibitions, and activities related to William Shakespeare, with a specific focus on the First Folio and commemorations surrounding William Shakespeare Day (April 23rd). The entries are drawn from the research conducted for this report, illustrating the global scope and diverse nature of engagement with the Bard. Dates for past events are included to demonstrate recurring patterns (such as annual celebrations or anniversary initiatives), while future dates, particularly for 2025, are highlighted where available. Users are advised to consult the websites of host institutions for the most current information, schedules, and booking details, as programming is subject to change.

B. Key Table: Global Shakespearean Events and Resources (First Folio & Shakespeare Day Focus)

Entry #	Event/Resource Name	Host Institution/Organization	Location	Date(s) / Frequency	Event Type	Description & Focus
1	Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebration	Folger Shakespeare Library	Washington D.C., USA	Annually near Apr 23 (Apr 19, 2025)	Celebration	Family-friendly party: crafts (ruffs), demos (sword, printing), sonnets, dance, music, cake. Highlights cultural impact, builds community.
2	Shakespeare’s Birthday Lecture	Folger Shakespeare Library (Folger Institute)	Washington D.C., USA	Annually near Apr 23 (Apr 19, 2025)	Lecture/Symposium	Annual lecture by notable scholar. 2025: Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper on “Shakespeare Beyond Relevance.” Free, registration required.
3	Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebrations	Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT)	Stratford-upon-Avon, UK	Annually near Apr 23 (Apr 26, 2025)	Celebration	Hometown events. 2025 theme: “The Women Who Made Shakespeare,” featuring silent disco, workshops (writing, printing) on Henley St.
4	SBT Birthday Lecture	Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT)	Stratford-upon-Avon, UK	Annually near Apr 23 (Apr 25, 2025)	Lecture/Symposium	Annual lecture. 2025 speaker: Dame Harriet Walters. Part of wider birthday events.
5	SBT Public Conference (Women Who Made Shakespeare)	Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT)	Stratford-upon-Avon, UK	April 25, 2025	Lecture/Symposium	One-day conference with academics/actors exploring Shakespeare’s female characters. Part of 2025 Birthday events.
6	First Folio! The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare Tour	Folger Shakespeare Library (Touring)	USA (All 50 states, DC, PR)	2016 (Feb-Dec)	Exhibition	Major tour for 400th death anniversary. Displayed Folio (open to Hamlet), panels, local programming. Partners: ALA, CMC, NEH.
7	Folio400 Celebrations	Various (Folio400 Initiative)	Global (UK, Europe, USA, etc.)	2023	Festival	Global events marking 400th anniversary of First Folio publication. Included exhibitions, performances, talks, publications, online events.
8	RSC Folio400 Season	Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)	Stratford-upon-Avon & Touring UK	2023 (Jan-Oct)	Performance	Staged 5 plays saved by Folio: Tempest, Julius Caesar, Cymbeline, As You Like It, Macbeth. Part of Folio400.
9	Globe Folio400 Season	Shakespeare’s Globe	London, UK	2023	Performance	Staged 4 plays saved by Folio. Part of Folio400.
10	Folio Day at Shakespeare’s Globe	Shakespeare’s Globe	London, UK	April 23, 2023	Celebration	Display of Munro First Folio, on-site activities marking Folio400 launch.
11	First Folio Display (Munro Copy)	Shakespeare’s Globe	London, UK	Ongoing	Exhibition	Display of the privately owned ‘Munro’ First Folio in the main foyer.
12	Emma Smith Folio400 Lecture	Shakespeare’s Globe	London, UK	April 23, 2023	Lecture/Symposium	Lecture by Prof. Emma Smith on the Folio’s cultural value in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
13	“Will’s Book” Exhibition	Deutsches Literartarchiv (DLA) / Globe	Marbach, Germany	Oct 12, 2022 – May 21, 2023	Exhibition	International conference & exhibition showing First, Second, Third, Fourth Folios. Part of Folio400.
14	“Shakespeare Recovered” Exhibition	Durham University	Durham, UK	April 4 – Nov 2, 2025	Exhibition	Features Durham’s unique stolen/recovered First Folio. Focus on history, damage, conservation, scientific analysis (doodles revealed), interactive elements. Free entry.
15	“Shakespeare’s First Folios: A 400-year journey”	Senate House Library, University of London	London, UK	Nov 21, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024	Exhibition	Traced Folio’s journey, re-issues, collecting history. Featured one of SHL’s two Folios. Part of Folio400.
16	“Bringing the Book Alive” Reading Event	Senate House Library / Friends of SHL	London, UK & Online	Feb 22, 2024	Performance	Readings by actors (Samantha Bond, David Horovitch etc.) & poets responding to Shakespeare. Linked to exhibition. Recorded online.
17	Digitized First Folios (Durning-Lawrence & Sterling)	Senate House Library, University of London	Online	Ongoing	Online Resource	Fully digitized versions of both First Folios held by SHL available online.
18	“Shakespeare’s First Folio: 400 Years On” Exhibition	Shakespeare North Playhouse / British Library	Prescot, UK	Autumn 2023	Exhibition	Featured a First Folio on loan from the British Library for the 400th anniversary.
19	“Thou Art Translated” Exhibition	Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford	Oxford, UK	Feb 25 – May 14, 2023	Exhibition	Displayed a First Folio alongside translations (Bengali, Tagalog, Swahili, Klingon etc.). Part of Folio400.
20	First Folio Display (Bodleian Loan)	National Library Board Singapore	Singapore	Mar 11 – Apr 23, 2017	Exhibition	Display of First Folio on loan from Bodleian Libraries. Included focus on Shakespeare in Asia.
21	Christie’s First Folio Exhibition	Christie’s Auction House	London, UK	2023 (Part of Folio400)	Exhibition	Special exhibition displaying six rarely-seen First Folios from private/institutional libraries (Arundel Castle, Senate House, John Murray etc.)
22	“To The Great Variety of Readers” Exhibition	Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT)	Stratford-upon-Avon, UK (New Place)	2023 (Part of Folio400)	Exhibition	Featured the ‘Ashburnham’ First Folio, ‘W.S.’ seal ring, and 17th-c fan notebook.
23	“From Stage to Page” Exhibition	Carnegie Mellon Univ. / The Frick Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh, PA, USA	Apr 1, 2023 – Mar 10, 2024	Exhibition	Displayed all four 17th-c Folios (First, Second, Third, Fourth) from CMU collection. Included 360 Virtual Tour. Part of Folio400.
24	“Inventing Shakespeare” Exhibition	Carnegie Mellon University Libraries	Pittsburgh, PA, USA	Mar 6 – Dec 1, 2023	Exhibition	Companion exhibition to “From Stage to Page,” focusing on text, technology, Hinman Collator, Shakespeare-VR project.
25	Huntington Library Folio Installation & Talks	The Huntington Library	San Marino, CA, USA	Nov 1-13, 2023	Exhibition	Temporary installation of First Folio and related materials for 400th anniversary, with curator drop-in talks.
26	First Folio Display (Guildhall)	City of London Corporation	London, UK (Guildhall Library)	April 24, 2023	Exhibition	One-day display of First Folio with hourly talks; also showed quartos and replica Folio. Part of Folio400.
27	First Folio Display (Soane’s Museum)	Sir John Soane’s Museum	London, UK	2023 (Part of Folio400)	Exhibition	Display of the museum’s First Folio (purchased 1825) accompanying a talk by Prof. Emma Smith.
28	First Folio Display (British Library Treasures)	British Library	London, UK	Ongoing (Displayed throughout 2023)	Exhibition	First Folio often displayed in the permanent Treasures Gallery. (Verify 2025 status).
29	First Folio Display (V&A)	Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)	London, UK	Ongoing (Displayed throughout 2023)	Exhibition	First Folio potentially displayed as part of collections. (Verify 2025 status).
30	First Folio Display (Royal Collection)	Royal Collection Trust	Windsor Castle, UK	Nov 2-9, 2023 & July 19, 2023 (Reception)	Exhibition	Displayed for Folio400, including school group visits to Royal Library & reception for King/Queen with RSC performance.
31	First Folio Display (Eton College)	Eton College	Windsor, UK	Sept 16, 17, 24, 2023	Exhibition	Displayed Eton’s unique extra-illustrated First Folio. Part of Folio400.
32	First Folio Display (King’s College Cambridge)	King’s College Library	Cambridge, UK	Sept 8, 2023	Exhibition	Displayed First, Second, Fourth Folios alongside theatre history items. Part of Folio400.
33	First Folio Display (Queen’s College Oxford)	Queen’s College	Oxford, UK	April 23, 2023	Exhibition	Displayed the college’s First Folio once owned by David Garrick. Part of Folio400.
34	First Folio Display (Wadham College Oxford)	Wadham College	Oxford, UK	April 23, 2023	Exhibition	Displayed the college’s First Folio bequeathed in 1775. Part of Folio400.
35	First Folio Exhibition (Winchester College)	Winchester College	Winchester, UK	Apr 20 – Nov 20, 2023	Exhibition	Treasury exhibition showing First Folio, Ben Jonson Folio, Heywood quarto, 18th-c editions. Part of Folio400.
36	“Folio 400: Shakespeare treasures at Longleat”	Longleat House	Wiltshire, UK	Apr 20 – Oct 29, 2023	Exhibition	Featured Longleat’s First Folio, Peacham drawing (Titus Andronicus), Longleat portrait. Part of Folio400.
37	First Folio Touring Exhibition (Birmingham)	Birmingham Central Library	Birmingham & region, UK	Apr 23 – Oct 21, 2023	Exhibition	Birmingham’s First Folio toured various local libraries and community centres as part of ‘Everything to Everybody’ project & Folio400.
38	First Folio Display (National Library of Scotland)	National Library of Scotland	Edinburgh, UK	Late 2023	Exhibition	Displayed NLS First Folio in ‘Treasures’ exhibition, final stop in Scottish Folio400 displays.
39	First Folio Display (University of Glasgow)	University of Glasgow / The Hunterian	Glasgow, UK	April 22-23, 2023	Exhibition	Displayed university’s conserved ‘made up’ First Folio at Hunterian Art Gallery to launch Folio400.
40	First Folio Display (Mount Stuart Trust)	Mount Stuart Trust	Isle of Bute, UK	Apr 17 – May 3, 2023	Exhibition	Displayed the Bute Collection’s First Folio with school group activities. Part of Folio400.
41	First Folio Conference & Display (St Omer)	Université d’Artois / Bib. de St Omer	St Omer, France	2023 (Part of Folio400)	Lecture/Symposium	International conference “Shakespeare’s First Folio across the Ages” featuring display of the St Omer First Folio (discovered 2014).
42	“Shakespeare’s First Folio: 1623–2023” Exhibition	Multnomah County Library	Portland, OR, USA	Apr 6 – May 19, 2024	Exhibition	Collins Gallery exhibit celebrating 400th anniversary, highlighting legacy in education, film, pop culture.
43	First Folio Day Celebration (UPenn)	University of Pennsylvania (Kislak Center)	Philadelphia, PA, USA	April 23, 2023	Celebration	Performances (R&J, Hamlet, Twelfth Night), sonnet winners, display of first four Folios, cake. Part of regional Folio400.
44	First Folio Fortnight of Festivities	West Chester University	West Chester, PA, USA	April 10-23, 2023	Festival	Multi-week festival for Folio400. Included Folio display, library exhibit, lectures, sonnet contest, Renaissance Fair, Twelfth Night performance (Apr 23).
45	Digitized First Folio (Folger Copy 5)	Folger Shakespeare Library	Online	Ongoing	Online Resource	High-resolution digital facsimile via Folger Digital Image Collection & downloadable PDF with scholarly essays.
46	“Inside the First Folio” Online Feature	Folger Shakespeare Library	Online	Ongoing	Online Resource	Interactive tool to flip through pages of a Folger First Folio, view annotations (e.g., Jonson poem, actor list).
47	Digitized First Folios (Other Institutions)	Meisei Univ., UPenn, Miami Univ. OH	Online	Ongoing	Online Resource	Digital, open-access facsimiles available online from these universities.
48	Folger Online Exhibition Excerpts	Folger Shakespeare Library	Online	Ongoing	Online Resource	Excerpts from past Folger exhibitions (e.g., 2011 First Folio exhibit) available online.
49	“400 Years of Shakespeare’s First Folio” Exhibit	UC Irvine Libraries	Online	2023-Ongoing	Online Resource	Online exhibit exploring First Folio’s history, influences, impact on language/arts, featuring UCI’s copy.
50	Stratford Festival Canada	Stratford Festival	Stratford, ON, Canada	Annually (Apr-Oct)	Festival	Major theatre festival featuring multiple Shakespeare plays (e.g., Cymbeline 2024) and related Forum events (Folio lectures 2023). 2025 season calendar available.
51	As You Like It Performance	Oregon Shakespeare Festival	Ashland, OR, USA	April 23, 2025 (1:30 PM) & Season Run	Performance	Production of Folio-saved play running on Shakespeare Day 2025.
52	Julius Caesar Performance	Oregon Shakespeare Festival	Ashland, OR, USA	2025 Season (around Apr 23)	Performance	Production of Folio-saved play running in Spring 2025 season.
53	OSF Preface Talks	Oregon Shakespeare Festival	Ashland, OR, USA	Daily during season (e.g., Apr 23, 2025)	Lecture/Symposium	Engagement events providing context for plays. Talks for As You Like It & Importance of Being Earnest scheduled for Apr 23, 2025.
54	ASC Shakespeare’s Birthday Festival	American Shakespeare Center	Staunton, VA, USA	April 21-27, 2025	Festival	Week of workshops, tours, events (#Shakespearaoke, sonnets, Swiftie crossovers) at Blackfriars Playhouse celebrating Shakespeare’s birthday.
55	King Lear Performance	American Shakespeare Center	Staunton, VA, USA	Feb 13 – Apr 19, 2025	Performance	Production running in lead-up to Shakespeare Day week 2025.
56	The Comedy of Errors Performance	American Shakespeare Center	Staunton, VA, USA	Mar 20 – Apr 20, 2025	Performance	Production of Folio-saved play running up to Shakespeare Day week 2025.
57	Chicago Shakespeare Theater Performances	Chicago Shakespeare Theater	Chicago, IL, USA	April 2025	Performance	Performances of Sunny Afternoon scheduled around Apr 23, 2025. (No specific birthday/Folio events listed).
58	Bell Shakespeare “Play In A Day: King John”	Bell Shakespeare	Sydney, Australia	April 23, 2025 (6:30 PM)	Performance	Script-in-hand reading of rarely performed Folio play King John, staged on Shakespeare’s birthday.
59	Prague Shakespeare Co. Macbeth Performance	Prague Shakespeare Company	Prague, Czech Republic (Estates Theatre)	April 26, 2025	Performance	Performance of Folio-saved play scheduled near Shakespeare Day.
60	Prague Shakespeare Co. Hamlet Performance	Prague Shakespeare Company	Gdansk, Poland (Shakespeare Theatre)	April 23, 2025	Performance	Performance of Hamlet: We Are Hamlet on Shakespeare Day.
61	Artscape Theatre Centre Hamlet Performance	Artscape Theatre Centre	Cape Town, South Africa	April 11-17, 2025	Performance	Production of Hamlet scheduled in the run-up to Shakespeare Day.
62	York Shakespeare Project Henry VI Performance	York Shakespeare Project	York, UK (Theatre@41)	April 25-26, 2025	Performance	Performance of Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3 (“I Am Myself Alone”) during York International Shakespeare Festival.
63	York International Shakespeare Festival	Various	York, UK	April 23 – May 4, 2025	Festival	International festival featuring performances (YSP Henry VI, Codename Othello, There’s no clock in the forest etc.), workshops, talks, exhibitions.
64	South Dakota Shakespeare Festival	South Dakota Shakespeare Festival	Vermillion, SD, USA	June 23-29, 2025	Festival	Weeklong festival featuring Romeo & Juliet (June 26-29), film screening, 5k run, trivia, workshops. Includes birthday week elements.
65	Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa	Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa	Cape Town, South Africa	May 6-31, 2025	Festival	Annual festival featuring 48 school drama groups presenting abridged Shakespeare plays. Follows Shakespeare Day.
66	Prague Shakespeare Company Summer Intensives	Prague Shakespeare Company	Prague, CZ; UK; Italy	Summer 2025 (June-Aug)	Workshop/Education	Multi-week acting intensives focusing on Shakespeare, includes UK & Italy touring/training options.
67	Prague Shakespeare Company Winter Intensives	Prague Shakespeare Company	Prague, CZ; Austria; Germany	Winter 2025-26 (Dec-Jan)	Workshop/Education	Multi-week acting intensives, includes Vienna & Bremen touring/training options.
68	Irondale Theatre Virtual Sonnet Marathon	Irondale Theatre Ensemble	Online (Zoom / YouTube)	April 23, 2020	Performance	7.5-hour live virtual reading of all sonnets for Shakespeare’s 456th birthday, featuring celebrities (Ralph Fiennes etc.) and community members.
69	Notre Dame Sonnetfest	University of Notre Dame	Notre Dame, IN, USA	Annually April 23 (Apr 23, 2025)	Performance	Daylong reading of all 154 sonnets on campus to celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday.
70	Shakespeare Reading Group (Steidtmann)	Bud Werner Memorial Library (Virtual)	Online (Zoom)	Weekly (e.g., Apr 23, 2025 for Othello)	Workshop/Education	Participatory reading group for experienced/first-time readers, focusing on specific plays (Othello).
71	Shakespeare Reading Group (Rogers Library)	Rogers Free Library	Bristol, RI, USA & Online	Weekly (Mondays)	Workshop/Education	Drop-in reading group for Shakespeare enthusiasts, meeting in person and online.
72	Senate House Library Folio400 Blog Series	School of Advanced Study / Senate House Lib.	Online	2023-Ongoing	Online Resource	Series of blogs examining the Folio and its impact from various critical perspectives (sculpture, Macbeth sources, legal context, classical texts etc.)
73	Folger Pedia (Online Encyclopedia)	Folger Shakespeare Library	Online	Ongoing	Online Resource	Online resource with articles on Shakespearean topics, including the First Folio and the 2016 US tour.
74	National Talk Like Shakespeare Day	Various (Originated by Chicago Shakes)	Global / Online	Annually April 23	Celebration	Encourages speaking like Shakespeare. Activities: use thee/thou, -eth endings, couplets, insults. Resources online.
75	Talk Like Shakespeare Day Open Mic Sonnet Slam	High School for Arts and Business	Corona, NY, USA	April 23, 2025 (4-6 PM)	Performance	Open mic event for students/community to share sonnets, monologues, or original work inspired by Shakespeare. Costumes encouraged.
76	Talk Like Shakespeare Day Activities (General)	Various	Global / Online	Annually April 23	Celebration	Suggested activities: costume wearing, sonnet recitals, themed movie nights, writing exercises, school competitions, insult duels.
77	World Book Day / World Book & Copyright Day	UNESCO / Various	Global	Annually April 23	Celebration	International day for books and copyright, often linked with Shakespeare Day due to the date.
78	UN English Language Day	United Nations	Global / Online	Annually April 23	Celebration	UN day celebrating the English language, coinciding with Shakespeare Day.
79	Shakespeare Film Screenings (Lark Theater)	Lark Theater	Larkspur, CA, USA	April 23, 2025	Film Screening	Screenings of NTL: Hamlet, Chimes At Midnight (Falstaff), Macbeth (Tennant/Jumbo) scheduled for Shakespeare Day 2025.
80	British Council “Shakespeare Lives” Film Screenings	British Council	Global (e.g., Botswana)	2016	Film Screening	Free screenings of Shakespeare productions (e.g., Globe’s Twelfth Night) as part of global 400th death anniversary program.
81	Folio400 Documentaries & Broadcasts	Sky Arts / BBC / AMC	TV / Online	2023	Film Screening	Included ‘Will’s Book: Shakespeare’s First Folio’ documentary and BBC’s ‘Shakespeare: Rise of a Genius’ series.
82	Shakespeare Association of America Annual Meeting	Shakespeare Association of America (SAA)	Annual Rotation (Boston, MA – Mar 2025)	Annually (March/April)	Lecture/Symposium	Major academic conference for Shakespeare scholars worldwide. Features seminars, panels, workshops, performances (e.g., AFTLS residency 2025).
83	Italian Assoc. Shakes. & EMS Graduate Conference	IASEMS	Italy (Florence 2022)	Annually / Biennially	Lecture/Symposium	Graduate conference, 2022 focused on First Folio (“‘True Originall Copies’?”). Publishes proceedings.
84	“First Folio at 400: Linguistic Legacies” Conference	University of Bergamo & others	Bergamo, Italy & Online	Nov 10-11, 2023	Lecture/Symposium	Hybrid conference exploring Early Modern English impact, featuring dialogues between scholars.
85	Wooden O Symposium	Southern Utah University / Utah Shakes Fest	Cedar City, UT, USA	Annually (Aug 4-6, 2025)	Lecture/Symposium	Academic symposium linked to Utah Shakespeare Festival season (Macbeth, Antony & Cleopatra, As You Like It in 2025).
86	BritGrad Conference	University of Birmingham (Shakespeare Inst.)	Stratford-upon-Avon, UK	Annually (June 19-21, 2025)	Lecture/Symposium	British Graduate Shakespeare Conference (‘New Horizons in Shakespeare Studies’ 2025).
87	British Shakespeare Association Conference	British Shakespeare Association	Annual Rotation (York, UK – June 2025)	Annually (June 25-28, 2025)	Lecture/Symposium	Major UK conference (‘Practising Shakespeare: new collaborations, expanding horizons’ 2025).
88	Texas A&M “Folio Futures” Symposium	Texas A&M University	College Station, TX, USA	Recent (Date not specified)	Lecture/Symposium	Symposium on editing early modern plays, linked to New Variorum Shakespeare & Folio 400th. Keynotes: Bennett, Rasmussen.
89	Trinity College Dublin “Shakespeare the Irishman”	Trinity College Dublin	Dublin, Ireland	April 14, 2025	Lecture/Symposium	One-day symposium exploring Irish connections, part of Folio 400th anniversary week at TCD.
90	Campion College “Shakespeare & Philosophy” Symposium	Campion College	Sydney, Australia	Sept 5-6, 2025	Lecture/Symposium	Two-day symposium exploring philosophical dimensions in Shakespeare’s work.
91	Folger Consort Early Music Seminars	Folger Shakespeare Library	Online (Zoom)	Regularly (e.g., Apr 30, 2025)	Workshop/Education	Virtual seminars led by Folger Consort Artistic Director, exploring music related to upcoming concerts (e.g., English Civil War).
92	University of Oxford Shakespeare Webinar Series	University of Oxford (English Faculty)	Online	Monthly (Ongoing 2025)	Workshop/Education	Monthly webinars on specific plays (Titus Andronicus May 5, Julius Caesar June 2, etc.) featuring various scholars. Recordings available.
93	Shakespeare’s Globe Anti-Racist Shakespeare Webinars	Shakespeare’s Globe	Online	Ongoing Series (Mentioned 2023)	Workshop/Education	Free webinar series discussing Folio plays through the lens of race and social justice.
94	Notre Dame “Shakespeare & Possibility” Series	University of Notre Dame / ThinkND	Online	Ongoing Series (Spring 2025)	Workshop/Education	Online series exploring various aspects of Shakespeare (Directorial Concepts, Cross Dressing, Shakespeare in Prison etc.).
95	Chicago Shakespeare Theater Teacher Handbooks	Chicago Shakespeare Theater	Online / For Educators	Ongoing	Workshop/Education	Detailed guides for teachers (e.g., Midsummer) with activities, context, discussion prompts.
96	SBT Home Learning Resources	Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT)	Online / For Educators & Students	Ongoing	Workshop/Education	Online resources for ages 11-14 covering early modern theatre, actors, audiences, language, cue scripts.
97	ASC Theatre Camp	American Shakespeare Center	Staunton, VA, USA	Summer Annually (June-July 2025)	Workshop/Education	Three-week residential camp for young actors focusing on performance of specific plays (Henry VI cycle, Richard III in 2025).
98	Heart of America Shakes. Education Programs	Heart of America Shakespeare Festival	Kansas City, MO, USA	Annually (Spring/Summer 2025)	Workshop/Education	Includes Shakespeare Conservatory (Spring), Camp Shakespeare, Shakespeare Exploration, Shakespeare Unlimited camps (Summer).
99	Washington University Book Making Workshops	Washington University Libraries	St. Louis, MO, USA	April 18-19, 2024	Workshop/Education	Workshops on calligraphy and saddle stitch binding, discussing historic techniques from Shakespeare’s time. Linked to Folio anniversary.
100	Folger Shakespeare Library General Visit	Folger Shakespeare Library	Washington D.C., USA	Ongoing (Reopened June 21, 2024)	Exhibition	Access to reopened building, including new exhibition galleries (e.g., “How to Be a Power Player: Tudor Edition” through July 2025), gardens, shop, café. Timed entry passes.
101	RSC “The Play’s The Thing” Exhibition	Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)	Stratford-upon-Avon, UK	Ongoing (Open Daily)	Exhibition	Free exhibition exploring 100 years of theatre-making in Stratford. Includes interactive exhibits, costumes, and a First Folio display.
102	Folger Gala 2025	Folger Shakespeare Library	Washington D.C., USA	April 26, 2025 (6 PM)	Celebration	Annual fundraising gala. 2025 theme: Shakespeare in America / Jazz. Opportunity to meet new director Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper.
103	Shakespeare Birthday Tea (Liberal Democrats)	Manuela Perteghella MP / Lib Dems	Stratford-upon-Avon, UK (Hotel Indigo)	April 26, 2025 (3-5 PM)	Celebration	Political/social fundraising event coinciding with Stratford’s Shakespeare Birthday Weekend. Afternoon tea with fizz.
104	Bill’s Birthday Karaoke	York International Shakespeare Festival	York, UK (YSJ Creative Centre)	April 24, 2025 (7:30 PM)	Celebration	Karaoke event celebrating Shakespeare’s Birthday as part of the York festival.
105	Shakespeare & Food Workshop (PSU)	Portland State University	Portland, OR, USA	Feb 15, 2024	Workshop/Education	Workshop exploring Shakespearean food, from manuscript to cookhouse. Part of Folio celebration series.
106	Shakespeare-VR Project	Carnegie Mellon University Libraries	Pittsburgh, PA, USA	Demonstrated 2023	Online Resource	Virtual reality project placing viewer in reconstructed Blackfriars Playhouse to watch actors perform Shakespeare. Featured in “Inventing Shakespeare” exhibit.
107	Shakespeare Libraries & Institutes Guide	Catholic University of America Libraries	Online	Ongoing	Online Resource	Research guide listing key Shakespeare libraries/institutes in US (Folger, Huntington, Newberry) and UK (Shakespeare Institute, SBT Centre, Birmingham Shakes Lib).
108	Shakespeare Sonnet Marathon Extravaganza (Blog)	Michael Jarmer (Blog)	Online	April 2025	Online Resource	Personal project/blog documenting writing experimental sonnets daily during National Poetry Writing Month (April), including April 23rd.
109	Rabbi Sol Solomon Reads Sonnet 29	Dave’s Gone By (YouTube Channel)	Online	April 2020	Online Resource	Humorous reading/commentary on Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29, posted near Shakespeare’s birthday during pandemic.
110	Shakespeare First Folio Diary 2025	Paperblanks (via Zakys.com.mt)	Retail / Online	2025	Other	Commercially produced diary featuring cover design inspired by an 1800 binding for a First Folio.
111	SBT “A Day with…” Study Days	Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT)	Stratford-upon-Avon, UK	Scheduled throughout 2025 (e.g. Feb 12)	Workshop/Education	Study days focusing on specific plays, featuring illustrated talks by SBT experts like Dr. Nick Walton.
112	Shakespeare Authorship Talk (Susan Vere & Folio)	Shakespeare Authorship Roundtable (YouTube)	Online	Recorded (Date unclear)	Lecture/Symposium	Recorded talk discussing Susan de Vere (daughter of Edward de Vere) and her potential relationship to the First Folio, part of authorship question discourse.
113	Shakespeare Festival Guide (ESFN)	European Shakespeare Festivals Network (ESFN)	Online	Ongoing	Online Resource	Website listing member festivals across Europe with dates (some 2024/2025 listed). Includes Gdansk, Craiova, York, Neuss, Verona, etc.
114	ShakesBEER 2025	Heart of America Shakespeare Festival	Kansas City, MO, USA (Grand St Cafe)	April 21, 2025 (5:30-7:30 PM)	Celebration	Fundraising event featuring beer tasting and likely Shakespearean elements.
115	Folger Book Club	Folger Shakespeare Library	Online (Virtual)	Monthly (e.g., May 1, 2025)	Workshop/Education	Monthly virtual book club discussing works related to Shakespeare or the early modern period. May 2025: The Death I Gave Him (Hamlet retelling).

IX. Conclusion: The Living Legacy

The global landscape of activities surrounding Shakespeare’s First Folio and William Shakespeare Day demonstrates a profound and multifaceted engagement with the Bard’s legacy. From the hallowed halls of major libraries and research institutions to community theatres, classrooms, and digital screens, Shakespeare’s works continue to inspire celebration, performance, scholarship, and creative adaptation centuries after their creation.

The analysis reveals several key dimensions of this engagement. Anniversaries, particularly the 400th milestones of Shakespeare’s death (2016) and the First Folio’s publication (2023), serve as powerful catalysts, mobilizing institutions and communities worldwide for large-scale exhibitions, festivals, and special programming. Major institutions like the Folger Shakespeare Library, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, and the Royal Shakespeare Company play central roles, acting as custodians of heritage, centers for research, and producers of high-profile events and educational resources.

The commemoration of April 23rd itself is layered, combining historical remembrance, institutional tradition, popular cultural participation (like “Talk Like Shakespeare Day”), and connections to broader literary events like World Book Day. This allows the date to function as a versatile platform for diverse forms of engagement, from scholarly lectures and solemn ceremonies to family-friendly festivities and playful linguistic experimentation.

The First Folio exists in a compelling dual state: as a treasured, rare physical artifact driving major exhibitions and cultural tourism , and as an increasingly accessible digital resource fueling global scholarship and public interest through online facsimiles and virtual exhibits. Live performance remains a vital artery, with global festivals and theatre companies continually reinterpreting the plays, alongside community readings and innovative formats that underscore the works’ enduring power as drama. Education, spanning K-12 initiatives, public workshops, academic symposia, and online learning, forms a foundational pillar, ensuring the transmission of knowledge and fostering new generations of readers, scholars, and audiences.

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**Saving Shakespeare: The Day, the Book, and the Global Legacy**

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Comprehensive Guide to Shakespeare Day Celebrations and First Folio Events

Shakespeare Day: April 23, 2025

William Shakespeare’s birthday is celebrated annually on April 23rd, which coincidentally is also the date of his death in 1616. The First Folio, published in 1623, was the first collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays and remains one of the most significant publications in literary history. Below is a comprehensive list of celebrations, performances, and educational events organized by category and location.

Official Major Celebrations

Stratford-upon-Avon, UK (Shakespeare’s Birthplace)

Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebrations Parade – April 26-27, 2025 (weekend following Shakespeare Day)
Shakespeare Weekender – Free festival on Henley Street outside Shakespeare’s Birthplace with workshops, activities, and performances (March 29-30, 2025)
Birthday Afternoon Tea – Special event for RSC Patrons (April 26, 2025)
Speaking Shakespeare Workshops – Free activities at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (April 26, 2025)
Shakespeare Birthday Reception – Pre-parade gathering for RSC Friends and guests

London, UK

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Special Performances – Rotating schedule of Shakespeare’s plays through April including “Cymbeline” (April 20, 2025) and “Three Sisters” (April 19, 2025)
Globe Theatre Guided Tours – Special birthday-themed tours (April 20-30, 2025)

Washington DC, USA

Folger Shakespeare Library Birthday Celebrations – Annual celebration with readings, performances, and activities focused on the First Folio

First Folio Exhibitions & Educational Events

UK

The Play’s The Thing Exhibition – Royal Shakespeare Company’s free exhibition featuring a First Folio from 1623, reopening on April 26, 2025
Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust Exhibition – “Are ye fantastical?” interactive online exhibition featuring Shakespeare’s iconic female characters (launches 2025)
Shakespeare Week – Educational program for schools (March 24-30, 2025) featuring workshops and activities inspired by the Children’s First Folio

USA

The Huntington Library – Permanent exhibition of their First Folio in the Library Main Exhibition Hall
Folger Shakespeare Library First Folio Collection – Home to the world’s largest collection of First Folios, with special viewings and educational programs

Theatre Performances

Royal Shakespeare Company (Stratford-upon-Avon, UK)

Much Ado About Nothing – Royal Shakespeare Theatre (April 12-May 24, 2025)
Titus Andronicus – Featuring Simon Russell Beale (April 2025)
First Encounters: The Tempest – 80-minute version for young people aged 7-13, touring through May 10, 2025

Shakespeare’s Globe (London, UK)

Rotating repertory of plays – Different Shakespeare productions throughout April and the summer season
Midnight Matinees – Special late-night performances around Shakespeare’s birthday

Other Major Shakespeare Companies Worldwide

American Shakespeare Center (Staunton, VA) – Birthday celebration performances
Chicago Shakespeare Theater – Annual Shakespeare’s Birthday Sonnet Slam
Stratford Festival (Canada) – Opening season performances around Shakespeare’s birthday
Shakespeare Theatre Company (Washington DC) – Special April performances

Educational Events & Workshops

Folger Shakespeare Library – “Speaking the Speech” workshops for educators and students
Royal Shakespeare Company – “Speaking Shakespeare Workshops” (April 26, 2025)
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust – Daily online broadcasts from children’s authors and presenters (March 24-28, 2025)
Shakespeare’s Globe Education Department – First Folio workshops for students and educators
University Shakespeare departments worldwide – Academic conferences and lectures on Shakespeare and the First Folio

Public Readings & Literary Events

Global Shakespeare Read-a-thon – 24-hour continuous reading of Shakespeare’s works in multiple countries
Sonnet Slams – Public reading competitions in major cities
Complete Works Readings – Attempts to read all Shakespeare’s works in 24 hours at various locations
First Folio Reading Marathons – Public readings from the First Folio at libraries worldwide

Unique Celebrations

Talk Like Shakespeare Day – Coincides with Shakespeare Day, encouraging people to speak in Elizabethan English
Shakespeare-inspired Meals – Special menus at restaurants worldwide, including the Folger’s Shakespearean dinner recipes
Elizabethan Costume Events – Renaissance fairs and costume competitions
Shakespeare Pub Quizzes – Held at pubs and libraries internationally
Shakespeare Movie Marathons – Film screenings of Shakespeare adaptations at cinemas worldwide

Digital & Virtual Events

Virtual First Folio Tours – Online exhibitions of First Folio copies from major libraries
Shakespeare Birthday Online Readings – Live-streamed performances and readings
Social Media Campaigns – #ShakespeareDay and #FirstFolio hashtag events
Digital Shakespeare Scavenger Hunts – Interactive online games focused on the First Folio

Historical Sites & Tours

Riverside Tours – RSC tours along Stratford-upon-Avon riverside exploring Shakespeare’s theatrical heritage (begins April 28, 2025)
Scenic Workshop Tours – Behind-the-scenes tours of RSC production facilities (April 23, 2025)
Ghost Tours – Evening tours of Shakespearean locations focusing on supernatural elements in his works
First Folio Pilgrimage – Self-guided tours to locations housing First Folio copies

Major Organizations Hosting Events

Royal Shakespeare Company (UK)
Shakespeare’s Globe (UK)
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (UK)
Folger Shakespeare Library (USA)
The Huntington Library (USA)
American Shakespeare Center (USA)
Stratford Festival (Canada)
Shakespeare Theatre Association (International)
University Shakespeare departments worldwide

This list represents a comprehensive selection of the world’s most significant Shakespeare Day celebrations and First Folio events. Many more local readings, performances, and celebrations take place in schools, community theaters, libraries, and cultural centers worldwide to honor the Bard’s enduring legacy.