THERE’S another birthday celebration taking place at Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford, hot on the heels of the Bard’s.
Visitors are invited to honour the enduring legacy and cultural impact of Rabindranath Tagore, the famous Bengali poet, on what would be his 163rd birthday on Sunday (May 5).
Celebrations this year are set to be the biggest yet, with an intimate ceremony in the gardens of Shakespeare’s Birthplace, and a series of engaging performances on Henley Street.
Born on May 7 1861, Rabindranath Tagore is perhaps best known for winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913 for his poetry.
It is well documented that William Shakespeare had a profound influence on the young Tagore, who wrote a poem in Shakespeare’s honour to commemorate the Tercentenary of Shakespeare’s death in 1916.
Originally engraved on an ivory tablet, the poem can be seen on the plinth of Tagore’s bust in the garden of Shakespeare’s Birthplace, which was unveiled in 1995. Tagore’s birth anniversary has been celebrated by Prantik and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust ever since.
Like Shakespeare, Tagore’s works possess a universal, timeless appeal. As a result, they have inspired diverse audiences worldwide for decades.
During the special event, visitors to the Birthplace will be treated to inspiring performances of Tagore’s work by Prantik, whose theme for this year is Tagore’s seasonal songs.
And new for this year, the Trust is joining forces with DESIblitz, an award-winning British Asian Magazine to bring its celebrations to Henley Street, where all will be treated to a vibrant Truck Art Bus, together with a group of classical Indian musicians singing and playing Tagore’s most famous works.
For more information visit https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit/whats-on/tagore-birthday-shakespeares-birthplace/