TIES between Stratford and the Far East will be strengthened when Chinese dignitaries visit the town to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.
In addition to taking part in the Birthday Parade on Saturday (April 23), visitors from Fuzhou City of Jiangxi Province will explore the cultural links between Shakespeare and Fuzhou’s own culture giant Tang Xianzu.
Neither William Shakespeare nor Tang Xianzu knew of each other’s existence but both have enjoyed a cultural afterlife in their respective countries.
Tang Xianzu was a contemporary of William Shakespeare who left behind more than 2,000 poems when he died on July 29, 1616 at the Jade Tea Studio in Linchuan. One of his best known literary masterpieces was the play, The Peony Pavilion.
During their visit, the dignitaries will be taking in a cultural performance of Zhezixi opera ‘An Amazing Dream in the Garden’ and from ‘The Peony Pavilion’ at The Stratford Hotel as part of the symposium jointly commemorating the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu.
They are also set to be given a tour of the Bard’s former schoolroom.
Stratford District Council leader, Chris Saint signed a memorandum of cultural co-operation between the authority and Fuzhou City back in December in a bid to strengthen culture, education, tourism, economy and trade.
