Highlights include the Royal Shakespeare Company's King and Country Tour, featuring Henry IV Parts 1 & 2 and Henry V; the National Theatre Live screenings across cinemas in China, including Hamlet starring Benedict Cumberbatch; Shakespeare's Globe presenting The Merchant of Venice and a season of films curated by the British Film Institute that present some of the great adaptations of Shakespeare's work. As part of the British Film Institute's showcase, world-renowned actor Sir Ian McKellen will attend the Shanghai International Film Festival
The programwill also inspire and support creative talent in the UK and China, stimulating further and deeper collaboration between artists and professionals in both countries. In a groundbreaking new collaboration, the UK's Gecko Theatre and the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center will premiere a new work in Shanghai that links legendary Chinese playwright Tang Xianzu's Dream Plays and Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Shakespeare is seen as a master of the English language. His 37 plays and 154 sonnets have added over 3,000 words and hundreds of idioms to the English language. Shakespeare Lives supports English language learning in China through a new, free massive open online course (MOOC), Exploring English: Shakespeare, as well as through the Learn English mobile apps for kids.
Shakespeare Lives is also developing educational links between the UK and China, sharing the best of UK education and inspiring Chinese students to study in the UK, particularly in subjects such as English literature, theater, performing arts and film. A free Shakespeare schools pack will be available online for teachers and pupils to explore some of the key issues, themes and ideas in Shakespeare's plays. Shakespeare Smart Talks will give young people in China an insight into UK education, with high-profile creative professionals discussing the impact of Shakespeare in society, arts and culture worldwide.
