THE TALE of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet is set to re-imagined by visitors to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage as part of an experimental art project.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is working with artist Thor McIntyre to create an installation – known as Threads of the Unsaid – based on the doomed lovers’ tale.
Visitors to the home of Shakespeare’s wife will be invited to take part by recounting their memory or knowledge of the play which will be included as a sound bite or written words in a tunnel woven into the trees in the cottage grounds.
And Twitter users can contribute their ideas online via the hashtag #GiveaScript.
Artist Thor McIntyre said: “I’m enthralled by the idea that there is a kind of collective consciousness version of Romeo and Juliet that exists independently off-script.
“I’m intrigued as much by how people misremember and interpret this tale as much as the elements that stick.
“I’ve created some curious tools to extract a script and a new form of audio description from people inspired to contribute to this collective endeavour. I have also drawn from fascinating behind-the-scenes anecdotes unearthed from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s museum and archive collection.
“Working with visitors and online contributors around the world, we will reinvent Shakespeare’s most famous work as an artwork to walk within.”
On September 1, guests can explore the installation’s new take on the famous tragedy.
They will also be able to meet the artist behind the work, listen to live poetry and take part in painting activities.
Visit www.shakespeare.org.uk/threads-of-the-unsaid for more information.
