Saturday 23 April 2016

23rd April 2016

Lots happening this week including the Queen's 90th birthday which she celebrated in Windsor, so no photos or sharing of the birthday cake. Of course, the Queen has two birthdays, her official one is in June and she will be in London for that one so maybe she'll want to hang out with me then.


 There was another celebration today, that of William Shakespeare who died 400 years ago on 23rd April 1616. There is some debate about his birth date which was not recorded but his baptismal date was 25th April 1564 and it is assumed that he was born on 23rd April the same date on which he died. To celebrate the event the Globe theatre has produced a series of short films to be shown free along the Southbank this weekend.
The complete walk consists of 37 specially made short films approximately 10 mins in length, playing on a loop along a 2.5 mile route between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge. Each film explores one of Shakespeare's plays and includes scenes shot in the locations Shakespeare imagined when he wrote them, as well as other footage.















 Unfortunately a number of the screens were beset with technical problems

 I was there early this morning before the crowds arrived but as the day went on there were large groups surrounding the screens. Time for me to move on.











We were also entertained by musicians.

              
It wasn't just the Globe theatre that had planned something for today, the British Library have designed this wallpaper. Read more about it below.

 
 So there is no excuse for not reading or watching the Bard's work this weekend.


 The 23rd April is also St George's Day and as he is the patron saint of England there was a big party in Trafalgar Square with music, food and entertainment.

  And if it's St George then there has to be a dragon somewhere that just might need slaying.




















And tomorrow? Well it's the London Marathon so another busy day ( as a spectator!).

14 comments:

  1. Lots of celebrations happening in your country! Looks like fun - wish I could attend!

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  2. Happy Birthday to the queen!!! Looks like a fun time in Southbank I wish I could be there,

    I think the "netting" was actually strings of lights probably Christmas lights but I don't recall what month I took the picture. :-)

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  3. Its all happening there this week. Have a fun time. Slay a dragon, watch a play, read a book and cheer a marathon runner.

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  4. You were in the thick of it! Thanks for bringing us along

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  5. Marvelous! Happy birthday to the Queen! :-)

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  6. Trafalgr Square is always crowded

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  7. Lovely photos but I bet it was busy. We've been to watch the marathon a couple of times- our youngest son has run it twice. Enjoy the day.

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  8. That is nice you still remember Shakespeare with so much tributes through the city.

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  9. Hello, sounds like some fun celebrations in London. Happy Birthday to the Queen!
    Happy Sunday, enjoy your new week ahead!

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  10. That sounds like it was a really busy weekend for you then! I watched a bit of Shakespeare last night on the BBC.

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  11. A busy weekend for London! I love the bookshelf wallpaper. Especially good for those of us who keep our books on reading devices these day!

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  12. Intersting places and a great architecture.

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  13. I watched the London marathon on TV. I was looking for a cool nice race to do my first marathon and I chose London, one of my favourite cities in the whole world! So maybe next year you will be there supporting me as well ;)

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  14. It's wonderful to live where there is so much going on. (I hope Will won't mind if I celebrate a little late -- I didn't know it was his BD!)

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