Visitors to Shakespeare’s England this winter season will get to enjoy a range of seasonal activities.
Shakespeare’s England consists of Stratford-Upon-Avon and the Warwick Districts and contains locations and attractions linked to The Bard.
Seasonal activities will include the chance to see Father Christmas, listen to festive plays and carol concerts, enjoy candlelit tours, craft fairs and markets and see a Royal Shakespeare Company performance of A Christmas Carol.
Festive fayres
Christmas markets will be held in Stratford-upon-Avon on the last five Thursdays running up to Christmas: 23rd and 30th November and 7th, 14th, 21st December.
On the 1st December, visitors will be able to visit the Shipston on-Stour Rotary Victorian Evening. Groups can enjoy dozens of festive stalls, music, singing, food and the arrival of Father Christmas to his grotto.
From 19th November there will be Yuletide Fayres every Sunday in Leamington. The Warwick Victorian Christmas Evening will feature craft stalls and traditional entertainment on 30 November.
A new traditional Victorian Christmas Market opens in Stratford-upon-Avon from 8th – 10th December with 150 stalls selling gifts, local produce, homemade crafts, handmade cakes, decorations plus traditional roast chestnuts, mulled wine, ciders, gin and Bailey’s chocolate.
Christmas light switch-ons
On 19th November the Christmas lights will be switched on in Royal Leamington Spa. In Stratford-upon-Avon it will be 23rd November while in Kenilworth High Street you’ll see it lit up on 1st December and in Warwick Road 3rd December.
Performances
This winter the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) presents the comedy, Twelfth Night, from 2nd November until 24th February and a new stage adaptation by David Edgar of Dickens’ seasonal classic, A Christmas Carol from 27th November and 4th February. Both plays will run in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Other events
On 18th November Father Christmas will ride through the streets of Stratford-upon-Avon in a horse drawn carriage; Stoneleigh Abbey Christmas Craft Fair will take place on 26th November; a Christmas Wreath Making workshop at Kenilworth Castle will be available on 8th December; and Christmas at the Castle takes place from 9th – 10th December with crafts, storytelling and the chance to meet Father Christmas.
There are more events taking place this festive season, and group organisers should check the Shakespeare’s England website for more details.
For more information, visit www.shakespeares-england.co.uk.
