Crowds line Shrewsbury streets as celebrations bring Shakepseare's work back to life

Some of The Bard's most famous works were reenacted by members of Shrewsbury Heritage at various locations around the town.

There was music, drama and recitals in The Square, acts from Richard III and Romeo and Juliet in the courtyard of Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery's cafe, traditional folk music at the Wheatsheaf pub on High Street, sonnet readings at the Unitarian Church, a performance of part of Henry V at the Cross at the top of Pride Hill and traditional music from schools in the grounds of the town's castle.

Actors dressed as Shakespearian characters mingled with Saturday shoppers around the town.

Maggie Love, artistic director of Shrewsbury Heritage, said: "It was a great day. The sun shone and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

"We had 50 local actors and four Shropshire schools taking part.

"Like many other town across the country we were marking the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. As Shrewsbury Heritage we have been planning this for over a year.

"One of our members is Steve Ball, whose son Max is undertaking the Challenge 12 to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Performing at the festival was his fourth challenge and it went very well.

"Everyone really entered in to the spirit of things. We had numerous characters including Titania and her fairies, the witches from Macbeth, Launce and Crab from The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Enobarbus from Anthony and Cleopatra, King Lear and Cordelia.

"It seemed that everyone had a great day and it went without a hitch. We showcased all there was in the Renaissance world at the time of William Shakespeare. We even had William and his wife Anne Hathaway appear played by two of our members, Bill and Rosemary Hurst.

"This was very much a group effort with everyone picking their favourite Shakespeare piece and then interpretating it their way. It was a huge success."

Shrewsbury Mayor Councillor Miles Kenny opened the proceedings and said: "It was absolutely terrific. Shakespeare made the greatest literary contribution to the world. He was a leading figure and his works are so important. The festival was a triumph and we have to remember, Shakespeare's troupe, The King's Men, came to Shrewsbury and it is very likely that he did too.

"There are lots of references in his work to Shrewsbury. The town, with its half timbered buildings, added to the ambience of the festival."

Elaine Young, 69, from Harlescott was one of Macbeth's three witches who appeared at Darwin's Gate throughout the day.

She said: "I am a member of Shropshire Drama Group and, although I did not study Shakespeare at school, I have over the years read his work. To be able to take part in the festival was wonderful. When I told my granddaughter I was to play a witch she said it would not be too hard. To mark the anniversary of his death was very special."