Dating Shakespeare in the winter

At Stratford-upon-Avon

Nothing appears to deter Shakespeare lovers; not the on-setting Winter nor the harsh cruel winds that rip through one and all.

It is not a good idea for exposure but as I believe in his over-powering influence on literature, takes us all in one direction. Being one in the flowing crowds, I pull my cloak as close as possible to me warm. Yet, even the rain do not spare us but then a bit of sunshine on and oft, tease all of us. The Shakespeare Birthplace is so expanse and open, the Winter seems more bitter and harsh.

But my date with Shakespeare has always been romantic, radient ever-live. Nothing holds me back and still happy to roam around the place because it is a dramatic day out. It is a place of pilgrimage. Standing in the place where the genius was born, grew up, played, ate his meals in front of the old fireplace; where he slept and dreamed in these rooms and where he began his married life, still seems so magical.

A visitor pats a rare Bagot Goat.

I also discover Shakespeare's floral symbolism and the language of love. These fragrant themes are brought to life in the stunning cottage gardens with heart-shaped lavander maze. This is a unique place for one to recall love or further your love for someone. It is simply amazing.... the experience I mean.

The most romantic Shakespeare house, is Hathaway Cottage where the young Shakespeare courted and married Anne. Wandering through this award-wining cottage gardens and the Tudor paintings, is one glorious moment in a human's life.

Next, I move on to my favourite site of all; the childhood home of Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden and I am face to face with all the sights, sounds and smells of a busy working Tudor farm the Birthplace maintains as in the old days. I see the traditional rural skills like thrashing, winnowing, open-hearth cooking, baking bread, woodcutting and caring for the animals. It fascinates for me to watch them prepare a meal for midday, This sixteenth century farm with their resident Tudors, brings history to life. I was happy that I left the academic part for once, to enjoy and get the real 'feel' of Shakespeare of his time. But I was sorry that I missed the Halloween inspired fun in the farm that was held in early November.

As my life is spent handling cattle, a couple of horses, dogs and cats, I get naturally drawn to the animals in the Tudor Farm. It is new to me to make friends with Mangalitza and Tamworth pigs that I see for the first time.

I also hand-feed the Bagot goats and pet, caress the handsome horses. I also took a stroll in the surrounding fields to look over the rare breed of sheep and cattle.

Mary Arden's Farm is a working farm that keeps pace with the seasons so there is always something new happening.

Shakespearience

After my meandering, facing the rough weather, I move over to my favourite site, The Royal Shakespeare Company that continue performing in the Courtyard Theatre.

It is the lifetimes of the man still considered the greatest playwright of all times. At the RSC the shows run daily, every hour from 10 am to 5 pm with the running time being 45 minutes.

This spectacular show explores William Shakespeare's life and legacy and present on stage and highlights from nine of his best loved plays.

The heart-shaped Lavander maze brave the Winter in Hathaways cottage garden

In between there is a small interval for us to discuss and evaluate the substance of the plays with a senior scholar to guide us if we so desire. The nine plays is a cross section of his tragedies, comedies and histories, chosen wisely and on equal footing so that the viewers have their favourites among them and I find Hamlet so exhilarating and challenging with the new twist given. It is so difficult to put down in writing the feel I derive. Thanks to my Muse.

The creative crowd

Every afternoon, hundreds of young scholars help themselves throughout the auditorium in order to meet with their college syllabus, flying through notes, jotting down notes with new-found passion.

Pity, I never had such opportunity being a Shakespeare student from Grade V onwards. But, then that is the generation gap. It is there for these lucky kids in performances as well as lectures talks.

One could see the way they respond and compare with adult audience .... a subject I hope to investigate later for my research papers I hope to present. Interpreting theatre reception is an evanescent experience. Even these aspects which seem available for us to prove unstable in analysis.

The theatre was almost never silent during this week of performances.

Far from indicating restlessness or distraction, it is a layering of continuous articulated response with students and we adults anticipating imminent events.

From my position within the yard this response seem unambiguously a marker of engagement and excitement. The noise maps reactions to the events on stage from a focussed audience. The possibility that it is a provoked desire to intervene in the narrative is interesting and problamatic.

I slowly pull away from the young crowd to join in the senior discussions as the sun slowly creeps out from behind a thick cloud.