2016 marks 400 years since the death of Britain’s most famous playwright and poet, William Shakespeare. This has seen people taking part in different events around the country.
We all use phrases from Shakespeare on a daily basis, whether we realise it or not: hundreds of phrases we use without thinking about were actually first used by Shakespeare, such as “all’s well that ends well” and “a heart of gold”. While this is just part of his legacy, it is his plays which have retained their popularity over the years, and are still some of the most commonly performed plays – as well as inspiring books, films and works of literature.
Generations of schoolchildren have grown up learning Shakespeare and continuing his legacy, and I am glad that Lings Primary school are part of that. I was invited to join the Prime Minister in the garden of No. 10 Downing Street to welcome Lings Primary School and other schoolchildren take part in an extraordinary performance in a “Celebration of Shakespeare” event.
It is a real honour to visit No. 10 Downing Street, and a very special experience for the children attending: I was very pleased to see these Northampton children perform, and play a part in the celebrations of our National Bard that are taking place all across the country.