David Garrick - Shakespearean actor, impresario and showman – organised the Shakespeare Jubilee in 1769 that put Stratford on the tourist map. It also nearly bankrupted Garrick, but he transformed his fortunes by successfully retelling the story of the celebration in his Drury Lane theatre. Renowned Shakespearean actor and television star Clive Francis – who also chairs the Friends of the Temple to Shakespeare at Garrick’s house near Hampton Court – will lead us through this boisterous and intriguing story. 

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Talk introduced by Siri Fischer Hansen, Trustee of SIM.

This concert will feature Charles Dibdin’s music for Queen Mab as well as his songs and tunes composed for Garrick’s Jubilee, all in a new arrangement by John Macfarlane. Jane Glover will conduct a wind trio from the Orchestra of the Swan, accompanying four ‘scholar singers’ from VOCES8 in this rarely heard music from 1769.  

 

The concert will be introduced by Paul Higgins, Trustee of SIM.

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The organ of the Guild Chapel will feature in this concert by Ben Comeau, the centrepiece of which will be an improvised fantasia based on tunes from four centuries of Shakespeare's musical legacy. Starting with Greensleaves, it will wend its way through tuneful music-making to end with well-loved numbers from musical theatre including Kiss me Kate and West Side Story. 

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To be introduced by Martyn Bond, Chairman of SIM Trustees. 

 

 

Shakespeare’s well-known legacy in French, German and Italian opera and song will feature four soloists, accompanied by piano in this Gala Concert with works by Thomas, Verdi, Nicolai, Bellini, Gounod and Berlioz. 

The event will be compèred by Robert Lloyd, Patron of SIM, and a champagne reception during the interval will allow the guest of honour, Manuela Perteghello MP, Chair of the House of Commons All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shakespeare, to meet performers and audience.