VAC
VAC
VAC
Leisure Opportunities
Job search
Job Search
see all jobs
Latest job opportunities

Priceless Shakespeare artefacts go on show together for first time

Shakespeare’s New Place in Stratford-upon-Avon has opened a new exhibition
It features a copy of the First Folio a ring believed to have belonged to Shakespeare and a 17th century notebook
The centre piece of the new exhibition is the Ashburnham First Folio
The items were acquired in the 19th century and have been stored by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust ever since

Visitors to Shakespeare’s New Place in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK, are able to view three priceless artefacts together for the first time.

To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio, The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is displaying a copy of the Folio itself, a ring which is believed to have belonged to Shakespeare and a 17th century notebook – written by “his most obsessive fan”.

The Ashburnham First Folio going on display is comprised of 18 of his original plays (including Macbeth), as well as multiple anecdotes and his opinions on a variety of subjects.

It is the focal point of the new exhibition and holds major significance as it is one of only 233 currently known copies of the First Folio to be still intact – experts say that no two copies are exactly the same.

Alongside the First Folio, a seal ring, found by archaeologists outside the Holy Trinity Church in Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford, will be displayed.

The ring is said to have belonged to Shakespeare himself, as it bears his initials and is dated to the Elizabethan era – a period of time in which the poet is proved to have lived and worked.

The third part of the display – which opened on 25 March - is a never-before seen 17th century notebook that the written who The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust describes as ‘the first Shakespeare geek’.

The miniature book is made up of 48 pages and around 12,500 words. It provides insight and analysis into many of Shakespeare’s pieces which were published in the First Folio.

That has led experts to believe it must have belonged to one of Shakespeare’s most devoted – and first – fans.

Most items in the exhibition, including the renowned First Folio, were acquired in the 19th century and have been stored by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Since then, the collection has been slowly restored over time until ready for display at a celebration marking 400 years since the First Folio was originally published in 1623 - seven years after the famed writer died.

Professor Charlotte Scott, the Director of Knowledge and Engagement at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said: “Producing the First Folio was a labour of love and we have his friends and fellow actors to thank for publishing it.

“It was one of the most important and enduring artistic legacies of all time and this is something we are excited to explore in our upcoming exhibition.”

Sign up for FREE ezines, news alerts & magazines
Related news

Museums + Heritage Awards winners revealed

17 May 2018
The winners of this year’s Museums + Heritage Awards for Excellence have been announced, with ...

825,000 flock to Shakespeare sites during 400th anniversary year

20 Dec 2016
A record number of tourists visited the five historic houses of William Shakespeare in 2016 ...
Visitors to Shakespeare’s New Place in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK, are able to view three priceless artefacts together for the first time.
VAT,HAM,AAC,ACD
2023/THUMB351072_788757_620684.jpg

More News

1 - 15 of 69,578
03 Jun 2026
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day (GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and ... More
03 Jun 2026
Lithuanian care operator Addere Care has launched a “wellness care hospital” in Vilnius. It's the company’s second Lithuanian site, following a hospital in Trakai, but ... More
03 Jun 2026
Australia’s fast-growing fitness network, Viva Leisure, is adding a low-cost gym brand to its already extensive portfolio. The Zoo Fit rollout starts  in July with ... More
03 Jun 2026
Speedflex has launched a strength training programme for 10 to 16-year-olds, to make it safer, more inclusive and more engaging. Built on the Speedflex training ... More
01 Jun 2026
Tewinbury Farm Hotel in Hertfordshire, UK is expanding its premium leisure proposition with the launch of Farm Club, on 15 June. Located 30 minutes from ... More
01 Jun 2026

Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.

The €800 ... More

01 Jun 2026
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.  With decades of experience in immersive water-based attractions, Maelzer will ... More
29 May 2026
PureGym is encouraging people to step away from their screens and go for a walk, in a new initiative timed to coincide with Mental Health ... More
29 May 2026
Small improvements to sleep, diet quality, and physical activity, made in combination lead to a significantly reduced risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks ... More
29 May 2026

Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse ... More

28 May 2026
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, ... More
28 May 2026
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations ... More
28 May 2026
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world ... More
28 May 2026

Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and ... More

28 May 2026
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary, with the design and concept inspired by the Native ... More
1 - 15 of 69,578
VAC
VAC