Stratford-upon-Avon turns back time for Shakespeare's 450th birthday

  [caption id=“attachment_1499327” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] A horse-drawn carriage pulls a giant birthday cake marking the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth in Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare’s birthplace is hosting a weekend of festivities in celebration of their famous son who is regarded the world’s greatest playwright: Reuters[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1499329” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] Flowers surround the grave of William Shakespeare after a service commemorating him at Holy Trinity Church, where he was baptised and buried: Reuters[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1499331” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] The original registry of William Shakespeare’s baptism (third line from top) is displayed after a service commemorating him at Holy Trinity Church, where he was baptised and buried: Reuters[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1499333” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] Performers from the Royal Shakespeare Company wait for the start of a procession in honour of the bard. The ‘fool’ or the jester was often used as a device by which to provide entertainment, but also speak harsher words of truth about the characters or situations in the play: Reuters[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1499335” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] Two dancers from Ireland pose for photographers before performing in a procession marking the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth: Reuters[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1499337” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] Be the bard of Avon: A visitor with a suitably excited face poses for a photograph outside the house where Shakespeare was born: Reuters[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1499339” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] Volunteer Henry Clarke winces as he is cut with a fake knife which concealed artificial blood during a workshop entitled Blood, Guts & Gore at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Some of Shakespeare’s most bloodthirsty plays included Julius Caesar, Macbeth and  Titus Andronicus: Reuters[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1499355” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] Volunteer Jonathan Cooksey, dressed as Julius Caesar, pretends to die after being stabbed with fake knives which concealed artificial blood during a workshop entitled “Blood, Guts & Gore” at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon: Reuters[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1499345” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] A woman looks out a window as a procession marking the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth passes by in Stratford-upon-Avon: Reuters[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1499347” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] A giant Lady Godiva puppet joins a procession outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Fully-clothed but without her horse, the six-metre tall puppet could walk, wave at the crowds, and even blink: Reuters[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_1499357” align=“aligncenter” width=“940”] A flaming depiction of William Shakespeare during a firework display at the Royal Shakespeare Company: Reuters[/caption]