1. Introduction
Explain that this year marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. His words have inspired people around the world for generations. Did you know that Shakespeare’s plays have been translated into over 100 languages and are studied by half the world’s school children?
 Shakespeare has a global relevance - and also a contemporary relevance. Here is a film that shows an example of that. John Kani is a South African actor who describes his experiences of playing Othello in Apartheid South actor.
Check the audience has an understanding of Apartheid

2. A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016
Shakespeare Lives in 2016
Shakespeare died 400 years ago, but his plays are still relevant to many people all over the world because they address ideas about the human experience and what it means to be a citizen today.
Actor Dr John Kani has recounted his experiences playing Othello in apartheid South Africa, noting how far the country has come and the continued relevance of the play in today’s society. 
Watch his short video here:
Living Shakespeare: Dr John Kani on Othello (South Africa)
This film shows the contemporary relevance of Shakespeare and that the issues haven’t changed
©Anthea Davison, 2016

3. A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016
Shakespeare or Song?
Shakespeare’s mastery of meter and his expressive way with words has inspired music of every style from many cultures and backgrounds. Watch ‘Come to me’ featuring Anjana Vasan a blues song inspired by As You Like It.
Anjana Vasan © Andrew Lamb
Along with his themes and characters, many of Shakespeare’s words and phrases have become part of our everyday language and his work continues to be a rich source of inspiration for musicians and artists around the world today.
A music streaming service recently found that more young people recognised the lyrics of Justin Bieber than Shakespeare’s words and phrases! Similarly Akala from the Hip Hop Shakespeare Company challenges his audiences by reciting a series of one-line quotes and asking which ones are by Shakespeare and which are attributed to Hip Hop artists. / The Guardian
So, can your students spot the bard from recent musicians and be crowned Shakespeare Lives in School Day Quotations Champion?
Find out by holding an assembly quiz to see if they can spot Shakespeare from contemporary musicians, using the following questions taken from Akala’s Ted talk and a Guardian newspaper article.
Invite all the students to all stand up. Read each question and ask them to raise their right hand if they think the quotation is written by Shakespeare or their left hand if it is by a contemporary musician. If they get the question incorrect they sit down, until the final champions are left standing
Reportedly, more young people recognise Justin Bieber’s lyrics over Shakespeare’s words and phrases!
Take our quiz to find out whether your know your Bard from your Bieber…

4. “If music be the food of love, play on”.5

5. “If music be the food of love, play on”.
Twelfth Night - Act 1 Scene 1 5

6. 2. “To destroy the beauty from which one came”.5

7. 2. “To destroy the beauty from which one came”.
Jay Z – You Must Love Me 5

8. 3. “Should I fight for love or disarm?”5

9. 3. “Should I fight for love or disarm?”
Justin Bieber – That Should Be Me 5

10. 4. “I burn, I pine, I cherish”.5

11. 4. “I burn, I pine, I cherish”.
The Taming of the Shrew - Act 1 Scene 1 5

12. 5. “I was not born under a rhyming planet ”.

13. 5. “I was not born under a rhyming planet ”.
Much Ado About Nothing - Act 5 Scene 2 5

14. 6. “Maybe it’s hatred I spew, maybe it’s food for the spirit”.5

15. 6. “Maybe it’s hatred I spew, maybe it’s food for the spirit”.
Eminem – Renegade 5

16. 7. “Men would rather use their broken weapons than their bare hands”.5

17. 7. “Men would rather use their broken weapons than their bare hands”.
Othello - Act 1 Scene 3 5

18. 8. “A diamond for all of your passion”.5

19. 8. “A diamond for all of your passion”.
Justin Bieber – All In It 5

20. 9. “The most benevolent king, communicating through your dreams”.5

21. 9. “The most benevolent king, communicating through your dreams”.
Wu-Tang Clan – Impossible 5

22. 10. “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none”.5

23. 10. “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none”.
All’s Well That Ends Well - Act 1 Scene 1 5

24. “Cowards die many times before their deaths;
A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016
Quoting Shakespeare
The first black President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, was famous for his long fight against racial prejudice.
He chose this line from Julius Caesar as his favourite Shakespeare quotation, inspiring him for nearly three decades whilst in solitary confinement on Robben Island prison:
“Cowards die many times
before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of
death but once”
Which of Shakespeare’s lines would you choose?
A famous copy of Shakespeare’s plays was part of a recent exhibition at the British Museum in London. It was known as the ‘Robben Island Bible’ because of the solace and inspiration it brought to Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners during their years of imprisonment during Apartheid. It was smuggled into the jail covered by Diwali cards and each political prisoner chose their favourite quotations and signed their names beside it. Nelson Mandela chose a passage from Julius Caesar which begins, “Cowards die many times before their deaths/The valiant never taste of death but once.’
Prepare some of the pupils or teachers to share their favourite quotes
Ask your students and teachers to take a blank card on their way out of the assembly and write on it their own favourite Shakespeare quotations during the day for display around the school.
Puck © Anneleen Lindsay

25. A year-long, global programme of events and activities for 2016
"Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore, So do our minutes hasten to their end...” Sonnet 60
Find out more about the issues, ideas and themes in Shakespeare’s plays and explore the ways they remain relevant and current in our lives today, wherever we are in the world!
#shakespearelives
Shakespeare Schools Festival © Camilla Greenwell