Stratford-upon-Avon

in words and pictures

"This might have been Shakespeare's ring... Shakespeare probably used this book..." - From the very ridiculous and touristy Shakespeare exhibition

Garden behind Shakespeare's birthplace

Tudor gardens

Tudor buildings

"The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is an architectural disaster, so just think of it as a wonderful performance space" - Peter, about the RSC's theatre in Stratford

The "architectural disaster,"
aka the Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Another view of the theatre

Marie Corelli - Victorian romantic novelist (outsold Dickens) who bought land in Stratford and then gave it to the city, on the condition that all the land was kept as a public park

Park along the river

Two of my professors:
Jessica and Peter

Naughty misericord seats in the Holy Trinity Parish Church (burial site of Shakespeare) - After following the established design for the church, each craftsman was allowed to design his own misericord seat. Though some are patterned with a coat of arms or an animal or even Lady Godiva, most of the seats depict witches, demons, and various acts of a sexual nature.

Holy Trinity Church

Lady Godiva on a misericord seat

The sanctuary and chancel are angled towards
the left, to represent Christ's bent head on the cross

B&Bs not B&B's - As Peter says, "I don't stay at bed and breakfasts with apostrophes."

My lovely roommates Natalie and Robert
in our room at Avoncot Guest House

"We are such stuff as dreams are made on" - RSC's The Tempest

Jonathan Slinger as Prospero & Sandy Grierson as Ariel*

Felix Hayes as Trinculo
and Bruce Mackinnon as Stephano*

"This is the worst maze ever!" - Anne Hathaway's Cottage was my favorite building that we visited in Stratford, but it also had the worst maze and the most ridiculous sculpture garden.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage

The pineapple shaped hedge at the center
of the worst maze ever

UK in reverse: one of the terrible sculptures
in the ridiculous sculpture park

"Every why hath a wherefore" - RSC's The Comedy of Errors with the same cast as The Tempest

Felix Hayes as Dromio of Ephesus &
Bruce Mackinnon as Dromio of Syacruse* 

Set and cast of The Comedy of Errors*

All in all, a delightful and amusing overnight trip to the Bard's hometown.
~L

*Photo credit to the Royal Shakespeare Company