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Last weekend, another edition of the “Shakespeare & Poland” festival took place in William Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon, England. The event was organised by the Polish Cultural Institute in London and aimed to promote Polish culture and celebrate Polish-British links. The Book Institute was a partner of the festival.
As part of the festival, a free children's literary picnic was held on 24 June from 10am to 4pm near Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the cottage where Shakespeare's later wife spent her childhood. The theme of the picnic was the natural world as depicted in the works of John Kochanowski and William Shakespeare. The event included a range of activities for families with children, including art workshops, a 'treasure hunt', a meeting with a beekeeper, and herbal workshops. The event featured a performance by the Birmingham Country Folk Band.
On the evening of 24 June, a unique staging of Jan Kochanowski's Odprawa Posłów Greckich (“The Dismissal of the Greek Envoys”) translated by Charles Kraszewski took place at The Bear Pit theatre in Stratford. Ticket proceeds will be donated to the Ambulance Aid and Medical Aid Ukraine collection.
Meanwhile, on the second day of the festival, 25 June, a charity Chopin concert was held at Stratford Town Hall, from which all proceeds will also be donated to Ambulance Aid and Medical Aid Ukraine. Polish pianist Łukasz Krupiński, winner of many international competitions, performed in front of the audience. Also taking part in the event was Ukrainian soprano Inna Husieva, who presented selections of works by Ukrainian composers. The concert was preceded by a short lecture by Professor Tony Howard on Poland's links with Great Britain and Stratford.
Last year, a statue of John Kochanowski was unveiled on the occasion of the festival in Stratford-upon-Avon. The initiative was intended to draw attention to the similarities between the two artists - both in terms of literature and their lives. The statue, made by British sculptor Andrew Lilley, can be admired right now in the gardens of Anne Hathaway's home.