What You Will: Pop-Up Shakespeare - London 2012 Festival
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Event: -
Watch out, watch out, there's an actor about
Shakespeare lovers in London have long had the treat of enjoying the Sonnet Walks, organised by Shakespeare's Globe. These take place on the closest Saturday to the Bard's birthday (23 April); those joining the walks are 'surprised' at various places along the chosen route when actors stand up and recite any one of the 154 sonnets he composed.
Those who are not that familiar with the sonnets may be interested to know how many of the quotations from the 37 plays have become common parlance. With this in mind the Mayor of London (Boris Johnson) and the London 2012 Festival Director (Ruth Mackenzie) have created Surprises: What You Will: Pop-Up Shakespeare. Directed by Jonathan Moore and devised by Mark Rylance, the actor who initiated the Sonnet Walks when he was creative director of Shakespeare's Globe, What You Will is intended to engage us with events outside our own rushed and hectic lives.
Times and details of the specific events will be kept a secret to maintain the element of surprise. 50 actors, aged between 17 and 70 will amaze both visitors and Londoners alike as they perform on a one-to-one basis, or as part of a flash mob. You have been warned, so keep your eyes peeled and don't forget Jaques's speech from As You Like It (whose title informs these impromptu pieces) that 'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players'.
The events will run until 2 September and more information can be found at: www.molpresents.com and www.london2012.com/festival. You can also register for updates at: www.molpresents.com/surprises and follow @molpresents and @London2012Fest on Twitter
Those who are not that familiar with the sonnets may be interested to know how many of the quotations from the 37 plays have become common parlance. With this in mind the Mayor of London (Boris Johnson) and the London 2012 Festival Director (Ruth Mackenzie) have created Surprises: What You Will: Pop-Up Shakespeare. Directed by Jonathan Moore and devised by Mark Rylance, the actor who initiated the Sonnet Walks when he was creative director of Shakespeare's Globe, What You Will is intended to engage us with events outside our own rushed and hectic lives.
What You Will (picture courtesy of festival.london2012.com
Times and details of the specific events will be kept a secret to maintain the element of surprise. 50 actors, aged between 17 and 70 will amaze both visitors and Londoners alike as they perform on a one-to-one basis, or as part of a flash mob. You have been warned, so keep your eyes peeled and don't forget Jaques's speech from As You Like It (whose title informs these impromptu pieces) that 'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players'.
What You Will (picture courtesy of festival.london2012.com
Why? Why not?
When: It's a secret
Where: All over London
Cost: Free
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