Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations: All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely 'scarecrows'

Stratford's first ever Scarecrow Festival is set to coincide with the town's biggest celebration weekend of the year.

The Community Scarecrow Festival in Bancroft Gardens makes up the programme of events taking place across Stratford-upon-Avon for Shakespeare's Birthday Celebration Weekend on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28.

Alongside the traditional Celebration Parade, Quill Ceremony, National Living Statue Championships and a host of other free activities, locals are being challenged to put their creative skills to the test and make their very own inventive Shakespeare-inspired scarecrow masterpiece.

The Festival, which is run by Escape Arts and the Stratford Town Trust, will bring together community groups, schools, businesses and families to make the most inventive scarecrows, taking inspiration from their favourite Shakespeare plays or characters as part of the Birthday Celebrations weekend.

Karen Williams, Artistic Director of Escape Arts, said: "This is the first ever Community Scarecrow Festival to take place in Stratford so it's great that we were able to have this coincide with the biggest celebration of the year for the town which draws tourists from around the world to visit.

"The theme for this first competition had to be books and plays to help celebrate Shakespeare's Birthday so competition entries can be inspired by your favourite book characters or Shakespearian idols!

"Ideally, characters will be made out of recycled materials, with more points awarded for the most inventive uses and the most complex designs."

Sarah Summers, Town Clerk for Stratford-upon-Avon, added: "This is a wonderful addition to a busy schedule of events taking place across the Birthday Celebrations weekend including the annual Celebration Parade and Flag Unfurling Ceremony which draws huge crowds intent on seeing these long standing traditional elements observed. 

"Although it is important that these traditions remain, it's great that we are able to offer such a range of events across the weekend to help the entire community celebrate Shakespeare's legacy and get involved in the history of the region."