The Everything to Everybody Project are delivering activities alongside partners including Stan’s Cafe, Birmingham Centre for Art Therapies, poet and hip hop artist Kurly, and stage combat specialists Sword Dance with Shakespeare inspired activities for all ages and abilities.

Professor Ewan Fernie, Everything to Everybody Project Director, said: “We are delighted to be working with a range of our community partners to showcase things from the collection that have really inspired them. The brilliant Stan’s Café have been getting creative in the photo archive with the University of Birmingham School. And Birmingham Centre for Art Therapies have been ‘growing Shakespeare’ in response to the particularly green holdings in this great, publicly-owned Shakespeare hoard.

“There are lots of ways that visitors on the day will be able to get involved – from learning stage combat moves, creating their own Shakespeare-inspired poetry, and by delving into our costume box and performing Shakespeare for themselves! It’s all part of a great city-wide celebration and recovery of Birmingham’s unique and brilliant democratic Shakespeare heritage.”

The full programme of activities includes:
• A closer look at our photography collection with Stan’s Café, as well as a chance to visit their current exhibition, Shakespeare vs Birmingham, inspired by the photography archive, in the Shakespeare Memorial Room.
• A printing workshop inspired by ‘Growing Shakespeare’ led by Birmingham Centre for Art Therapies and inspired by the herbal and plant related holdings in Birmingham’s great Shakespeare collection.
• Spoken word and poetry with hip hop artist and poet Kurly – be inspired by Shakespeare’s language and create and perform your own poem.
• Sword Dance – try your hand at a stage combat workshop – can you duel it out with your friends without getting hurt?
• Midsummer Night’s Dream Fairy Storytime – introduce babies and toddlers to Shakespeare’s fairies in special story times throughout the day.
• People’s Folio Writing Activity – write or draw your favourite parts of Shakespeare’s plays to create a ‘People’s Folio’.
• Performances by YOU – perform much-loved works of Shakespeare for yourself and your friends after delving into our Shakespeare costume box.
• Everything to Everybody treasure hunt – follow a special Shakespeare inspired trail through the building and be awarded with a special completion certificate when you complete the trail.

Family Fun Day visitors are invited to share their creations and performances via social media tagging the Everything to Everybody Project. Visitors can also enjoy a glimpse behind the scenes at Birmingham Rep, who are also hosting a free Open Day.

The Everything to Everybody Project is an ambitious celebration of one of the UK’s most important cultural assets, the Birmingham Shakespeare Memorial Library – not just the first great Shakespeare library in the world but also the only great Shakespeare collection which belongs to all the people of a city.