Blackpool's Shakespeare Festival, 23

The stage is now set for the FyldeCoast’s 2014 Shakespeare festival which celebrates the life and works of England’s most famous playwright.

The brainchild of Cllr David Owen, Deputy Mayor of Blackpool, the festival has proven hugely popular and has attracted applicants, both younger and older, from across the Fylde coast.

He asked people from across the region to come forward to perform one of Shakespeare’s plays or sonnets to celebrate the 450^th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth.

And groups have rushed to take part with a huge programme featuring everything from a puppetry performance of A Comedy of Errors to The Merchant of Venice now in place.

Cllr Owen said: “I’m very pleased with the response we’ve had and the programme we have in place.

“There are a large number of organisations taking part at locations up and down the Fylde coast.

“It is a wonderful chance for people to learn more about Shakespeare, to celebrate his work and to have some fun with friends and colleagues .

“I hope people will go along to watch some of the performances and really get into the spirit of things.”

Among the Blackpool entrants are the Friends of Stanley Park and Salisbury Woodland, who are performing The Merry Wives of Windsor, staff from the new Blackpool Sainsbury’s store at the Talbot Gateway Central Business District, who will be performing Pyramus and Thisbe for St John’s Primary School and a collaboration between Fylde Coast Youth Dance Company and Revoe-lution Choir, who are staging a contemporary dance and song adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Blackpool’s historic Tower Circus.

Young People will also play their part with events and performances. Councillors are even doing their bit, performing Richard III in the Council Chamber.

The festival runs from April 23 – 26.

For more information and a festival programme of all the performances taking place throughout the festival, please go to http://shakespearefestival.wordpress.com

Or pick up a copy of the programme at your nearest Blackpool library.