Elsewhere on Monday, Professor Stanley Wells, chairman of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, unveiled a newly identified portrait of the Bard.

BBC: Shakespeare's first theatre found

In honour of the birthday celebrations, the Birthplace visitor centre will open a new exhibition, Famous Beyond Words, in March, retelling the story of Shakespeare's development from Stratford local to world famous playwright, using artefacts from the museum's collection (such as the 1623 First Folio, the first published collection of Shakespeare's plays and the only reliable source for more than 20 of his works).

BBC: Following in the Bard��s footsteps �C literally

The Royal Shakespeare Company is, of course, located in the Bard's birthplace.

BBC: Re-balancing Britain, from Bard to worse