Bearwood Community Hub Presents…
Saturday 3rd June | 11am - 4pm | The Dorothy Parkes Centre, Church Rd, B67 6EH
As part of the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City Council’s Everything to Everybody project, Birmingham’s First Folio - the first printed book of Shakespeare’s works and the only Folio in the world that was bought by a city for its population - is coming to Smethwick for the first time EVER!
Yow’d be a canker- blossom to miss it!
For a screen reader friendly programme of events for the visually impaired click here or type https://www.bearwood.cc/svi
What’s On?
Shakespeare’s Works - The First Folio
Drop in to view The Birmingham Shakespeare Memorial Library’s copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio. It is the only Folio in the world that was bought by a city to be owned, seen, shared, studied and enjoyed by its population. It’ll be visiting Smethwick in a protected case and with 2 security guards. This one is precious, and will only be in the heart of Smethwick for 5 hours, so don’t miss out!
An audio description of the folio by Sandwell Talking News volunteer Sarah-Ann will be at 11:20. Please call the Sandwell Visually Impaired office 0121 525 4810 to register your interest or message us at communityhub@bearwood.cc.
A sketch of William Shakespeare, a middle-aged, Elizabethan man with dark hair billowing down to his earlobes, a carefully trimmed mustache & a receding hairline. He is wearing a doublet, which has lots of decorative stitching & a wide collar.
Credit: Image by GDJ
Film Projections
Throughout the day we will be showing pages from the Folio on the projector screen, along with some great performances of famous passages from Shakespeare.
Reading Corner with Bear Bookshop
Ever felt that Shakespeare isn’t for you? Didn’t understand a word? Well come and sit alongside Jenny from Bearwood’s Bear Bookshop as she opens up the world of Shakespeare to adults and children alike.
Kurly McGeachie - Poet MC
Kurly McGeachie, Birmingham Poet Laureate finalist & RSC workshop practitioner, will join us all day as our MC and our poet-in-residence for the day, devising and performing new poetry as well as some of Shakespeare’s most classic sonnets.
Meet & Greet Elizabethan Performers from Spectra Arts
Locally-based neurodiverse theatre company Spectra Arts will engage visitors with their signature multi-sensory, quirky style. Providing an eye-catching welcome in Elizabethan costume hire, three warm and funny characters will encourage engagement with the day's activities by supporting access, provoking sensory curiosity and inspiring playfulness. Be sure to say hello - maybe with a curtsy or a bow?
Midsummer Night’s Dream Makerspace with The Parakeet Studio CIC
Inspired by the weird and wonderful imagination of William Shakespeare our Midsummer Night’s Dream Maker Space is the perfect place for kids to explore, make and create to their heart's content.
We’ll be creating sweet-smelling potions and pomanders mixing up magical ingredients to create our own special brews.
Trying our hand at writing with a quill, just like the scribes of old. You can make your own mini-folio and fill it with your own creative writing.
But that's not all - we'll also be transforming into Peaseblossom, Moth, Cobweb, and Mustardseed for a magically mischievous fairy photoshoot.
Perform a Scene!
Experienced theatre practitioner Kate Perry invites you to join her rehearsal techniques workshop. For ages 10-99, you’ll be performing a real scene from a Shakespeare play by the end of the workshop!
Compose your own Shakespearian Insults!
12:00-13:00 Best to Book! Rachel Green Drama Queen presents an interactive and educational fun workshop for all of the family to watch and learn from! Come and create your own fun insults inspired by the words of the Bard.
Suitable for families and ages 7 years upwards.
King Lear by Oddbodies Theatre Company
14:00-15:20 Oddbodies Theatre’s one-man King Lear premiered to five star reviews and wonderful audience feedback at the 2019 Brighton Fringe Festival. Smethwick is a stop on their UK tour and we’re delighted they will bring alive this classic play of Shakespeares, with a 1hr 20min physical theatre performance suitable for ages 14+
Grab your dancing shoes!
13:00-13:45 Drop In. Watch along, or join in with, the dances from the time of Elizabeth I! Gloriana Living History will be with us over lunch & we challenge you to get your dancing shoes on, and imagine yourself in some regal Elizabethan costume!
History of the Folio Talk By University of Birmingham’s Shakespeare Institute
15:30-16:00 Come to our lecture by storyteller and Shakespearean nerd Lauren Jansen-Parkes from the University of Birmingham, who will explain all about the First Folio: what it is, why we have this one in Birmingham, and the amazing collection it is part of - which we all have access to!
Accessibility:
Interpretation will be available in Arabic, Albanian, Kurdish, Farsi & Urdu thanks to our community interpreters.
The Dorothy Parkes Centre is a fully accessible venue, all on one level with accessible toilets and baby changing facilities.
If you have any questions about access, please contact Lizzie at communityhub@bearwood.cc
Schedule:
Drop in events: You can come and go as suits you & no prior booking is required!
Walk-Up events: You do not need to book in advance.
Booking recommended: Prior booking is recommended to avoid disappointment, a very small number of walk-up spaces will be kept back for people on the day.
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Shakespeare’s Folio (Drop-In)
Drop in to view one of the first ever copies of Shakespeare’s collected plays and poems, printed in 1623. It’ll be visiting us in its own protected case and with 2 security guards to keep it safe. This one is precious, and it’ll be in the heart of Smethwick for all to see.
Reading Corner with Bear Bookshop (Drop-In)
Ever felt that Shakespeare isn’t for you? Didn’t understand a word. Well come and sit alongside Jenny, from Bearwood’s Bear Bookshop, as she opens up the world of Shakespeare to adults and children alike.
Film Projections (Drop-In)
Throughout the day we will be showing pages from the Folio on the projector screen, along with some great performances of famous passages from Shakespeare.
Kurly McGeachie - Poet MC (Drop-In)
Kurly McGeachie, Birmingham Poet Laureate finalist, will join us all day as our MC and our poet-in-residence for the day, devising and performing new poetry as well as some of Shakespeare’s most classic sonnets.
Meet & Greet Shakespearean Performers (Drop-In)
Locally-based neurodiverse theatre company Spectra Arts will engage visitors with their signature multi-sensory, quirky style. Providing an eye-catching welcome in Elizabethan costume hire, three warm and funny characters will encourage engagement with the day's activities by supporting access, provoking sensory curiosity and inspiring playfulness. Be sure to say hello - maybe with a curtsy or a bow?
-
Midsummer Night’s Dream Makerspace with The Parakeet (Drop-In)
Inspired by the weird and wonderful imagination of William Shakespeare our Midsummer Night’s Dream Maker Space is the perfect place for kids to explore, make and create to their heart's content.
We’ll be creating sweet-smelling potions and pomanders mixing up magical ingredients to create our own special brews.
Trying our hand at writing with a quill, just like the scribes of old. You can make your own mini-folio and fill it with your own creative writing.
But that's not all - we'll also be transforming into Peaseblossom, Moth, Cobweb, and Mustardseed for a magically mischievous fairy photoshoot.
-
Perform a Scene - Rehearsal Techniques Workshop with Kate Perry (Booking Recommended)
Experienced theatre practitioner Kate Perry invites you to join her rehearsal techniques workshop. For ages 10-99, you’ll be performing a real scene from a Shakespeare play by the end of the workshop!
-
Compose your own Shakespearian Insults! with Rachel Green Drama Queen (Booking Recommended)
Rachel Green Drama Queen presents an interactive and educational fun workshop for all of the family to watch and learn from! Come and create your own fun insults inspired by the words of the Bard.
Thou art a……. bawdy bunch-backed canker- blossom!
Thou art a ……. fitful evil- eyed clotpole!
Thou art a …… roynish ill-breeding malt-worm!
William Shakespeare often wrote about people who didn’t like each other. This gave him a good excuse to think of lots of creative insults. Our workshop will enable you to learn about insults inspired by the most renowned and greatest playwright of all time.
Suitable for families and ages 7 years upwards.
-
Gloriana Living History Dance (Drop-In)
View, or join in with, Tudor Dancing! Gloriana Living History will be with us over lunch. We challenge you to get your dancing shoes on, and imagine yourself in some regal Tudor costume!
-
King Lear by Oddbodies Theatre (Pay what you can, booking recommended)
Oddbodies Theatre’s one-man KING LEAR premiered to five star reviews and wonderful audience feedback at the 2019 Brighton Fringe Festival. Smethwick is a stop on their UK tour and we’re delighted they will bring alive this classic play of Shakespeares, with a 1hr 20min physical theatre performance suitable for ages 14+
This show will be BSL interpreted.
-
History of the Folio Talk with University of Birmingham’s Shakespeare Institute (Booking recommended)
Come to our lecture by an academic from the University of Birmingham, who will explain all about the First Folio: what it is, why we have this one in Birmingham, and the amazing collection it is part of - which we all have access to!
With thanks to our funders & partners for this event:
