William Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616, but 400 years later he is still ‘alive and well.’ Shakespeare 400 , a four-day program designed for high school students to explore the works and the world of Shakespeare, took place April 20-23, 2016 at Grenfell Campus.

“This event gave participants a chance to become immersed in the work of this great writer,” said Dr. Ken Jacobsen, a professor in the English program and member of the organizing committee. “Participants enjoyed a great mix of live theatre, reading and workshops that helped them appreciate what the world looked like 400 years ago but showed that Shakespeare is very much our contemporary, the poet of now.

“The Shakespeare 400 workshop gave participants a chance to explore the plays  through acting exercises and presentations, and experience the thrill of live theatre performed by talented artists from the Grenfell community.”

Those involved explored the plays of Shakespeare as actors, with instruction from the faculty of the theatre program at Grenfell Campus, and take in lectures by renowned Shakespeare scholars. Dance workshops and a King James-style feast introduced students to the world of Shakespeare’s London. The week culminated with a performance of “Denmark,” a special adaptation of Hamlet, and a final celebration in honour of Shakespeare’s birthday that incorporated scenes and songs from Shakespeare, as well as pop culture inspired by the Bard.