British Museum opens a major exhibition on the world and works of William Shakespeare

Art Daily Newsletter

A woman walks past a painting by an unknown artist from about 1604, entitled "The Somerset House Peace Conference" during the press view of the "Shakespeare: staging the world" exhibition at the British Museum in London, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. The exhibition, which is being held as part of the London 2012 cultural Olympiad, provides a unique insight into the emerging role of London as a world city 400 years ago, seen through the innovative perspective of Shakespeare's plays. It runs from July 19 to November 25. AP Photo/Matt Dunham. LONDON.- During the summer of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games the British Museum presents a major exhibition on the world and works of William Shakespeare, supported by BP. Shakespeare: staging the world is part of the World Shakespeare Festival in the London 2012 Festival. The exhibition provides a new and unique insight into the emerging role of London as a world city four hundred years ago, interpreted through the innovative perspective of Shakespeare’s plays. The exhibition features over 190 objects, more than half of which are lent from private and national UK collections, as well as key loans from abroad. One of the key innovations of the period was the birth of the modern professional theatre: purpose-built playhouses and professional playwrights were a new phenomenon, with the most successful company being the Chamberlain's/King's ... More