The Shakespeare Birthday Lunch
Pragnell
22x43 Creative is the exclusive event agency appointed with delivering the annual Shakespeare Birthday Lunch in Stratford upon-Avon on behalf of our client Pragnell.
With two years now successfully delivered, we have achieved the objectives set out to elevate the annual event and raise awareness of William Shakespeare.
From introducing an exclusive media partnership with The Sunday Times and an array of prestigious event partners including Fortnum & Mason and Smythson of Bond Street. Directing the event creative from identity to branding, curating the guest experience, the show production, catering offer and collaborating with the RSC, The Shakespeare Institute and The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
With months of meticulous planning from council permissions and licensing, Health & Safety diligence, and Security requirements the eleven-day onsite build for the lunch, housed in a purpose-built marquee at RSC Avon Bank gardens overlooking the river Avon for 350 guests. From curated show production, lighting and sound, floristry, calligrapher and entertainment, the project has numerous touch points to be carefully planned and executed.
The lunch hosted by Alexander Armstrong, saw a welcome video message from HRH The Prince of Wales, President of the RSC with specially commissioned performances from the RSC including an extract from Much Ado About Nothing, starring Akiya Henry and Luke Wilson. The actor and producer Michael Dapaah performed an exclusive spoken word piece including a toast to the worldwide legacy of William Shakespeare. Orpheus with his lute by Jason Carr from Henry III (1996) performed by Alison Arnopp. The Lovers Canon performed by Mark Quarterly and Sophie Khan-Levey and Alex Kingston reprising her role as PROSPERO from The Tempest.
Special guest performances came from Dame Judi Dench performing a sonnet for the worldwide legacy of William Shakespeare, Dame Janet Suzman performed a series of Poems, Prof Nataliya Torkut from the Ukrainian Shakespeare Institute gave the Immortal memory to William Shakespeare. Olivier Nominated actress, singer, songwriter, international recording artist and Broadway and West End star Marisha Wallace
The annual Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations: a tradition that dates back over 200 years. Over the course of the Bard’s birthday weekend, performers, artists, and ambassadors from all over the world come together to celebrate the life and works of history’s greatest playwright.
The prestigious Pragnell Shakespeare Birthday award recipients introduced by Prof Michael Dobson were Adrian Lester CBE followed by Gregory Doran.
Post event press coverage generated numerous news stories and elevated the awareness of the event.
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