Shakespeare in Sutton - FOLIO’s fun festival for all Sutton Coldfield residents will get a rare opportunity to see a world treasure, first-hand and on their doorstep as part of a special arts festival in April 2022: FOLIO Sutton Coldfield will be hosting an event in Sutton Coldfield Library to see an original Shakespeare First Folio, and one that belongs to the people of Birmingham, the first collected works of William Shakespeare, published 399 years ago. Appropriately, this takes place on the Bard’s birthday, April 23!
This is just one of more than 20 events in 9 different venues around the town across April as part of Shakespeare in Sutton, FOLIO’s fun festival for all (https://shakespeareinsutton.org.uk/). WIth film showings and the chance to meet Falstaff, music performances and a newly commissioned map of Sutton in the time of Shakespeare, spoken word and street theatre, community group collaborations, costumes, competitions, local history events and online literature talks there really is something for everyone.
Booking is now open for all events and activities (9 -30 April) which require booking (some events are drop-in). Over 400 free tickets for different events were booked in the first weekend after publishing the full programme.
Shakespeare’s First Folio is being displayed thanks to FOLIO’s collaboration with the ‘Everything to Everybody’ Project, an ambitious celebration of one of the UK’s most important cultural assets: the vast Shakespeare Memorial Library housed within the Library of Birmingham.
Birmingham’s copy of the First Folio is unique because it is the only one bought with the aim of improving people’s lives through culture and education. It was purchased in 1881 for all the people of Birmingham - no matter their background, wealth or occupation and with the First Folio Tour the Everything to Everybody project wants to take this resource to as many people as possible. The First Folio’s first outing is to Sutton Coldfield Library. It is then touring across Birmingham over the next two years with stops at a range of locations including the Black Country Living Museum, Sense Touchbase Pears, Selly Manor, Highbury Hall, Gap Arts and The Hive in the Jewellery Quarter. The Folio will visit more locations in 2023.
In order to ensure as many people as possible can view the Folio, which will be open on the page of Henry IV part 1 which mentions Sutton Coldfield, people are advised to book a timed slot to visit Sutton Coldfield Library on April 23. That day will also see historical dance and music performances, a family puppet making session, a display of costumes from the Royal Shakespeare Company and other activities suitable for all ages to have fun with Shakespeare.
The streets of Sutton will also be coming to life on April 23 with walking performances, full of surprises, of the specially commission ‘Shakespeare Undone’ but the Natural Theatre Company.
FOLIO’s festival kicks off on April 9 with creative writing and spoken word performance workshops in Sutton Coldfield Library, with participants able to take open mic slots at Mouthpieces, a spoken word special in Highbury Theatre, on April 29, with headliners including Jemima Hughes and Dreadlock Alien.
A brand new map of Sutton in the time of Shakespeare by Sutton Coldfield born children’s book illustrator John Shelley will be on display in the Gracechurch Centre, whilst local expert Dr Mike Hodder will give a talk (Holy Trinity Church,April 20) and a guided walk (meeting at Vesey Gardens, April 30) on the same topic.
Shakespeare experts Dr Simon May and Ella May McGrail will be giving online talks about different aspects of the plays of the greatest writer in English. Local theatre groups The Highbury Players and Raw Talent Youth Theatre will be performing their own takes on the bard. Sutton Coldfield Movie Maker’s brand new feature film, Falstaff - a Naughty Knight in Sutton Coldfield - will receive its premier during the festival.
Liz Parry, FOLIO Trustee, said: ““Although the main focus is Sutton library, one of the lovely things about the festival is that events are happening in several different places, giving people an opportunity to see parts of our town that they may not have visited before.”
Jenny Wilkinson, FOLIO Trustee said: “I am particularly excited by the wide range of different activities we have on offer - written and spoken word, art, music, dance, drama. There really is something for everyone.”
Noran FLynn, FOLIO Trustee said: “The Shakespeare festival is bringing a range of exciting activities to Sutton Coldfield that will be accessible to everyone. It is amazing to think our town featured in Shakespeare’s writings and that we are now celebrating that in 2022 !”
The full festival programme can be found at https://shakespeareinsutton.org.uk/
FOLIO Sutton Coldfield is very grateful to all our funders of the festival, in particular the Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council.
1. Shakespeare in Sutton Logo
2. The First Folio held by the Shakespeare Memorial Library (please credit: Everything to Everybody)
3. Gloriana Living History
4. Passamezzo (please credit: Eric Richmond )
5. Raw Talent Youth Theatre
6. Film poster for Falstaff - a Naughty Knight in Sutton Coldfield (please credit: Sutton Coldfield Movie Makers)
