One of my favorite places on this earth is Stratford, Ontario. For over 25 years I attended the summer festival which offered wonderful plays, delicious food, comfortable bed & breakfast places, and a totally aesthetic experience. Stratford has really been #1 on the list of places I have missed during my life in France. To see the original was very interesting although not a complete substitute. For one thing, it is much smaller and less developed commercially.
Stratford-on-Avon is really close to London--about 2 hours. It was actually where Shakespeare was born in 1564--on Henby Street. He was the son of a glove maker and was expected to follow suit. Young William had other ideas, however, like being an actor. This choice was not a respectable one in 16th century England as it was associated with debauchery and prostitution--and didn't pay very much. However, he made the most of it and became a playwright to boot. How lucky we have been that he "followed his bliss".
There are 10 years that we know nothing about Shakespeare, which occurred before he broke out as a playwright. He probably was a troubadour, one who traveled the country telling stories and/or singing songs. This time helped him research the plots of his plays and the stagecraft that eventually made him a success. Shakespeare's legacy, perhaps, is British theatre, which is reputedly the best in the world. It has produced many famous and accomplished actors and actresses. The Brits are both proud and crazy about theatre.
Across from the river from the theatre are some bronze sculptures of Shakespeare's famous characters: (left to right) Falstaff, Hamlet, Lady MacBeth, and Prince Hal.
There are lots of places for hot tea and a scrumptious scone on the village's main streets. There are also some interesting shops like this one.
A tribute to Shakespeare on Henby Street near his birthplace (in the background).
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