Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London, England

Much ado about Shakespeare. Shakespeare Day

'All the world's a stage ...' and only a few have shaped that stage like William Shakespeare. Every April 23, we celebrate Shakespeare Day, honouring one of England's greatest playwrights and poets. This date is special as it marks both his birth and death. Born in 1564, Shakespeare revolutionised English literature with unforgettable works like 'Hamlet,' 'Macbeth,' and 'Romeo and Juliet.' Even four centuries after his death, his influence remains undeniable—his stories continue to captivate, challenge and inspire.

A Chennai-based arts foundation hosts the annual 'Hamara (Our) Shakespeare' festival, blending history with a fresh connection to the poet. Meanwhile, Delhi's Shakespeare Society of India continues to see growing success with its yearly short play competition, 'Scenes from Shakespeare.' With today's image, we can step inside Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London, a faithful reconstruction of the original 1599 theatre, where the Bard's plays once thrilled Elizabethan audiences. With the open-air stage, wooden benches and a standing 'groundlings' area, it's as close as one can get to experiencing Shakespeare as his audience did.