While in the garden I met with Annie and Jean Paul, Annie told me that when at school she studied Shakespeare and found it very interesting and Jean Paul told me that his visit to the Birthplace was perfect.

I think I may have spent too long in the 16th century and lost the ability to operate 21st century technology – that’s my excuse for the shaky camera work at the beginning of this blog.  It’s worth waiting for things to come back into focus to hear Anne talk about the influence Shakespeare – [...]

At this time of year, School groups from every region of France visit the Birthplace.  For some of the kids, it’s the first exposure they’ve had to Shakespeare and his world.  It’s great to have the opportunity to share a few minutes of magic in the garden – one of our Shakespeare Aloud actresses had [...]

Shelly and Remi, visiting from Paris, talk under an umbrella in the rainy garden of Shakespeare’s Birthplace.   Meeting them was a great way to be reminded that no one writes about romance like Shakespeare and that there is a little bit of Romeo and Juliet in all of us.

It was great to talk to this French school group and their teachers – in French and English!  

t was great to talk to this French school group and their teachers – in French and English!

One of The Birthplace Guides, Paul, has undertaken a project to map the regions of France that visiting school groups come from. Since February students from almost 75% of regions have come through the house.

I met some great French girls in the Birthplace garden this morning and I asked them whether they thought Shakespeare was still relevent to young people today.  Before they answered my question I had to tell them why I liked shakespeare  - and they recorded me on their mobile phones!