A copy of the First Folio of Shakespeare’s plays, formerly owned by George III and presented by his son George IV to the British Library in 1823, is to go on display in Newcastle.
This is the first time that this particular Folio has left the British Library and it will be on display in Newcastle City Library (Level 6), New Bridge Street West, from 14 March to 24 April. The Library is open Monday to Thursday from 8:30AM to 8PM, Friday 8:30AM to 5:30PM, Saturday 9:30AM to 5:30PM and Sunday 11AM to 5PM. Entry is free.
The book will be left open at A Midsummer Night's Dream which is being performed by the RSC at Northern Stage from 16 to 26 March.
Associated events will include an exhibition of Shakespearean costumes and some early Shakespeare playbills from the Theatre Royal’s archive collection.
Councillor David Stockdale, cabinet member for communities and facilities at Newcastle City Council, said, “this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and Newcastle will be grabbing it with both hands!
“To be lent such a prestigious and important piece of literary heritage from the British Library is an honour for the people of Newcastle and will be a major asset for the time it is with us. I’m sure William Shakespeare’s First Folio will be a huge attraction for the City with schools, visitors and especially lovers of the Bard’s work.”
The First Folio, which is 1000 pages long, was printed in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, when his friends, actors John Heminges and Henry Condell, collected together copies of all his plays. It is estimated around 750 First Folios were printed, of which 233 are currently known to survive worldwide. The British Library owns five.