Road closures for Shakespeare's Birthday Celebrations

Visitors to Stratford-upon-Avon are being advised that some roads will be temporarily closed during the annual Shakespeare's Birthday Celebrations.

The popular tourist destination will be hosting special events once again this month to mark Shakespeare's 455th birthday.

In honour of Stratford's most famous son, a celebratory parade will be taking place on Saturday 27 April, which means some roads will need to be shut down for a short period of time.

The closures will be in effect between 7am and 1.30pm and motorists and visitors are being advised to make a note of them.

The roads that will be shut are Henley Street, Meer Street, Bridge Street, Union Street, Wood Street, High Street, Waterside, Southern Lane, Sheep Street, Chapel Street, Church Street, Chapel Lane and Old Town.

Sarah Summers, Town Clerk for Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council, wants to make sure that everyone is aware of the closures in advance.

"This is set to be another fantastic year of celebrations in honour of William Shakespeare and we hope to see as many people as possible coming out and supporting the weekend," Sarah said. "The traditional celebration parade on the Saturday is a key aspect of the weekend and so it's important that all of those involved in the parade are safe and that is why we have the road closures in place.

"Once the parade has finished the roads will be open once again by 1.30pm; all closures will be fully signposted on the day."

Shakespeare's Birthday Celebrations will be on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 April, when a number of events will take place.

Everything will be started off with the procession on the Saturday at 10.30am and a flag unfurling ceremony.

On the Sunday of the festivities will be the traditional Quill Parade ceremony, which sees Shakespeare's quill carried from his birthplace to an effigy of the bard above his grave.

Across the weekend, activities will be hosted by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. The National Living Statue Championships will be returning for the second year in Bancroft Basin alongside the markets and food court.

There will also be a whole host of other performances and activities taking place across the two days.

Isabel Edgar Briançon, Executive Director at Stratford-on-Avon District Council, added: "We need to make sure that everyone is safe during the parade and that is why we have the closures in effect.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused, but the roads will be opening shortly after the parade concludes.

"The birthday celebrations are a great weekend of events and activities for all the family and we're all very much looking forward to seeing the town filled with visitors wanting to honour Shakespeare."

For further information about the event and all the activities during the birthday weekend, visit www.shakespearescelebrations.com.