Godiva celebrates Shakespeare s Birday in Stratford

Godiva will join the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in celebrating Shakespeare's 450th Birthday on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 April in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Godiva will arrive in Stratford on Friday 25 April to a welcome by community groups and the Birthplace Trust, before spending the night at Shakespeare's Birthplace in Henley Street.

On Saturday 26 April Godiva will lead The People's Pageant stopping at the RSC before visiting Bancroft Gardens where she will invite people to sign the ribbons of a birthday bouquet for Shakespeare. At 3.30pm Godiva will walk back to the theatre to present the birthday bouquet from Godiva and the people of Coventry to Shakespeare and the people of Stratford.

Jane Hytch, Chief Executive at Imagineer said: There are strong similarities between Godiva and the women Shakespeare wrote about and that were part of his life, so we are delighted that Godiva will begin her Odyssey in Stratford. We are extremely excited about bringing Godiva to new, and old, audiences with new performances, we hope to take inspiration from the places we visit and the people we meet as well as amaze the people we encounter along the way.

Marion Morgan of Stratford Birthplace Trust and co-ordinator of the People's Pageant said: There is a natural symbiosis between Godiva's Odyssey and Shakespeare's birthday celebrations both were famous historic characters from the Midlands whose legends live on in our imaginations. Godiva was a strong and principled character, the kind that Shakespeare wrote about, and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's five properties Shakespeare's Birthplace, Nash's House, Halls Croft, Anne Hathaway's Cottage & Gardens and Mary Arden's Farm all have strong associations with the women in his life.

Godiva's performance and participation in the annual birthday celebrations for Shakespeare is the first in a series of performances that will take place in different locations throughout 2014. Godiva's Odyssey will see Godiva travel from town to town, region to region, greeting its people and sharing discoveries. From July Godiva will be accompanied by her trusted companion, The Hummingbird, a symbol of human endeavour, who together will Godiva will remind us of a time when we were small and the world was big and full of possibilities and hope.

Godiva's visit to Stratford is supported by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and the RSC.

LINK:	http://www.imagineerproductions.co.uk/blog_entry/2693/latest_news/late...
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