As you enter the exhibition
area you are met with the idea that Shakespeare is Britain’s greatest cultural
contribution to the world, and also that in his time, the world was portrayed
on the stage of the Globe Theatre. This is perhaps something difficult for us
to understand as with modern technology the world is readily available at the
click of a button, however, as you progress through the exhibition you get a
real sense of how very true this is.
As you move through the
various areas of the exhibition you are taken on a journey through time, and
around the world, from the London that Shakespeare inhabited, to the classical
world, all the way through to modernity and a display of how important
Shakespeare’s work is to this day.
Both in the medieval past,
and the classical world sections it was interesting to learn about how
Shakespeare both reported on the past whilst overlapping and interweaving contemporary
issues. I was also interested by the claim that his histories were never meant
to be historically accurate portrayals, as his works have so influenced ideas
about events and characters from history, most notably Richard III, whose
reputation was blackened with Tudor propaganda.
In every room there was an
audio to be listened to, or a video to be watched of modern members of the RSC
performing sections of the plays. This was interesting, albeit somewhat
distracting when trying to read the information on the exhibits. However, it
was particularly effective in the witchcraft section, creating an eerie mood.
There were some utterly
fascinating, and unique objects on display, from a First Folio edition, to
famous paintings, to the lantern that supposedly belonged to Guy Fawkes. One of
my favourite pieces on show was that showing ideas of how to combine the
English and Scottish flag created under James I. One of the most disturbing
objects was a requiary containing a human eyeball.
All in all this was a
fascinating, well thought out exhibition, which successfully portrayed the
opinions expressed at the beginning. This is not an exhibition about
Shakespeare’s life, but one about the world he inhabited, influenced, and that
which he took inspiration from. There’s something here for everyone to enjoy,
and it’s a great opportunity to explore the world of our most famous
playwright.
The exhibition is running until November 25th, more details here.