Audio-guided Shakespeare performances to begin

'A little patch of ground ', a new guided audio performance is scheduled to take place at the Birmingham City centre this coming weekend.

The performance is inspired by the hundreds of Polish Shakespeare translations, theatre posters and documents found in the Shakespeare memorial library.

The performance is a collaboration between Parrabbola and the 'Everything to Everybody ' Project which takes place in locations across Birmingham city centre from 15 to 17 September.

The performance features two live performers who work in conjunction with an audio recording which the audience listen to via a phone or other player.

The live material will include Shakespeare in Polish as well as the Shakespeare connections between England and Poland.

The event will begin at Snow Hill Station and will last for approximately 50 minutes. Audience members are asked to come in comfortable clothing and bring along a smartphone and headphones in order to download the audio recording.

Each performance will end at the Library of Birmingham where participants will have the opportunity to view the 'Everything to Everybody: Your Shakespeare, Your Culture ' exhibition.

The exhibition is a collaboration between the Royal Shakespeare Company and the 'Everything to Everybody ' Project and is presented by the Birmingham 2022 Festival.

A Little Patch of Ground is created by Parrabbola - Aleksandra Sakowska, Philip Parr, Hania Lange and Polish actor Leszek Tarasewicz from Gdansk as part of the 'Everything to Everybody ' project.

Philip Parr, artistic director for Parrabbola said: “A great many stories emerged as a result of our research with the Everything to Everybody Project team. What came to light was the Polish struggle for freedom and making theatre during censorship. We 've been able to use the inspiration to inform conversations with the Polish community and these interviews have enabled us to create 'A Little Patch of Ground '. We look forward to taking audiences on a journey through Birmingham. ”

Ewan Fernie, project director of the 'Everything to Everybody ' Project said: “Birmingham 's Shakespeare library holds material in over 90 different languages, including some very special Polish holdings. The visionary founder of the library, George Dawson, spoke in favour of Polish independence in the Town Hall in the mid nineteenth century and it is an honour and a privilege to revive Birmingham 's links with Poland 's Shakespeare heritage and the pioneering struggle for European freedom thanks to the wonderful Parrabbola. ”

Tickets are free, but requires pre-registration.

Find out more and book tickets here: https://everythingtoeverybody.bham.ac.uk/getinvolved/

For more information, visit [email protected]