Inside Shakespeare's mind:

What followed the Garrick jubilee

At the beginning no one ever imagined the colossal impact that the Garrick Jubilee of 1769 organised by David Garrick, a famous actor, would have on the popularity on William Shakespeare's works.

Had Garrick lived the day, he himself would have been amazed at the impetus he was responsible for. The growing national interest in Shakespeare's life and work during the first half of the eighteenth century reflected itself in the publication of Nicholas Rowe's life and works of Shakespeare and the numerous subsequent editions of the plays in the growing popularity of the productions of plays and in the increasing number of literary pilgrims visiting Stratford.

The first recorded Shakespeare production in the town were by the company of strolling players led by John Ward in 1746. Visitors wishing to see Shakespeare's mulberry tree at New Place planted by the poet himself, had become so numerous and caused annoyance to the owner of the property who decided to cut it down in 1756. It was in the middle of this century that this incident took place. Three years later when the owner of the property decided to demolish the house, local indignation rose to such heights that he was compelled to abandon the property and get lost. It was amid curses and rage of its inhabitants.

Shakespeare pageant outside Shakespeare's Birthplace at Stratford

And thirteen years later in 1769, the widely publicized Shakespearian Festival organised by David Garrick, gave the impetus to Stratford's rising popularity as a shrine of literary pilgrimage when a magnificent octagonal amphitheater was erected on the Bancroft and the whole town decorated in brilliant illuminations. The highlight of the programme was Garrick's recitation of his Shakespearian Ode to Arni's music mariad the highlight of the programme that included the firing of cannons public breakfasts, concerts, masquarade and ball, serenades, processions, fireworks, horse-racing on Shottery meadow and the likes of all other than any performance of a Shakespeare play. It was such amemorable event that what followed years on, wan no match to this event. Of course, as usual in England, the weather spoilt the proceedings.

Visitors to the Birthplace and the Parish Church steadily increased and Stratford gradually appreciated its good fortune with improvement of communications which followed the celebrations of the Jubilee of 1769. It is recalled that Walpole who visited the Birthplace in 1777, described how he was shown Shakespeare's chair which had been pretty much sliced and that he purchased a slice of the chair equal to the size of a tobacco stopper. An amusing list of the spurious relics which he saw exhibited in his house in 1815 was noted by Sir John Byng in his diary. They include the shattered stock of the very matchlock with which Shakespeare shot deer, This of course remain as a shameless exploitation which did no good for Shakespeare nor Stratford. When Shakespeare's house was offered for sale in 1847, public opinion was sufficiently strong to ensure its purchase for preservation as a national memorial.

In London and Stratford volunteers raised Sterling pound 3,000 as subscription to make this possible. Since that time, the property has been administered by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

The idea of holding annual celebrations was established in honour of the poet was gradually established

and occasional productions of Shakespeare's plays were given in buildings temporarily adapted for the purpose. It was a mega event when the poet's bicenteray death in 1816 was celebrated by the Foundation of the Shakespeare-Club which inspired Stratford's first permanent theater in Chapel Lane in 1827 and organised a three-day Festival celebrations in 1830.

Thirty four years later in 1864, the poet's tercentenary celebration was followed by a big step forward with the establishment of the festival idea in Stratford-Upon-Aveon. It began with the poet's birthday and lasted for twelve whole days and judging from the contemporary accounts the preparations which went into the planning were on a scale almost comparable with the 1769 Jubilee.

Annually, on the poet's birthday that coincides with St. George's Day, a long procession winds its way to pay floral homage and offer prayers at his tomb in the Holy Trinity Church

A massive and grand twelve-sided pavilion, constructed with timber on foundations of masonary along with galleries, an orchestra, stage and lit by gas, was erected in Southern Lane and this was a setting for a full programme of concerts, fancy dress balls and the likes of it with sumptious banquet dining in addition to the performance of Shakespeare's plays. There were also additions of local excurtions to places of Shakespearian interest were also added to the usual pageantry, merry making and fireworks display. The Festival was considered the best tribute of his time for the poet with orderly demonstrations.

Ten years later, in 1874 The Shakespeare Memorial Association was inaugurated and from which the first Shakespeare Memorial Theater was founded. It was mainly due to the enthusiasm and genorosity of its founder, Charles Edward Flower who believed that the only natural and proper place for a Shakespeare theater was in the poet's native town. The Lodon critice were hostile in the face of local apathy but Flower pressed on with his scheme and the Shakespeare Memorial Theater was open on his birthday, 23, April in the year of 1879.

Hence was the start of the prestigeous Meccas of English literature, The Royal Shakespeare Theater in Stratford. From then onwards Stratford to the present, has had a Festival annually lasting only a few weeks. But the Shakespeare season today, extends to over ten months linking Stratford with an ever-increasing circle of Shakespeare lovers. The present theater was opened in 1932 and still later, The Royal Shakespeare stands proudly upon River Thames.

Each year on St. George's Day which also happens to be the poet's birthday, 23 April, Strafford arranges celebrations and attended by the nations of the world, at times with members of royalty.

The procession winds it way to the poet's tomb at the Holy Trinity Church followed by a banquet for all present.