!!“Now is the winter of our discontent”
Shakespeare offers a helping hand on the most depressing day of the year!
Monday (Jan 19th) will officially be Britain’s most depressing day – but don’t worry, with Blue Monday looming The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust are offering a remedy for all those in need of some January cheer! To mark this gloomy day, they are offering entry to any of the Shakespeare Houses for just ONE pound, as well as some bard-advice to beat the January blues.
William Shakespeare also recognised that we all feel depressed from time to time and no doubt when he wrote the famous opening line “now is the winter of our discontent” over 400 years ago, he was obviously referring to the credit crunch! The good news is, there are ways to help beat the blues and we all know that trying something new is a healthy start. So for 2009, why not try some Shakespeare?
January is typically the month when most of us feel sadder than usual. Hardly surprising when Christmas is a distant memory leaving only bills to pay! Cliff Arnall, a health psychologist, formerly of Cardiff University came up with a statistical formula to measure the unhappiest day of the year, now known as Blue Monday (January 19th).
THIS MONDAY ONLY, The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is offering everyone* the chance to visit any of the five Shakespeare Houses for just a pound. Here are their top 5 recommendations to dispel gloom!
1. Try something new – visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace and learn a bit about our local bard, a bit of culture goes a long way!
2. Get some exercise! Enjoy a spot of fresh air and a wander with nature in any of the five fabulous award-winning gardens that surround the Shakespeare Houses!
3. Pet a Pig! Meet some of the rare-breed animals on show at Mary Arden’s Farm. We all know animals are a great way to relieve stress!
4. Get in the mood… Visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and feel the love at England’s most romantic cottage, where Shakespeare courted his wife to be.
5. Meet some Tudors! At Mary Arden’s Farm, visitors can see first hand how a Tudor Family would have lived – now that will make you feel better. As the line goes “convert all your sounds of woe into hey nonny nonny”.
Diana Owen, Director of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust said “Each of the houses has something different to offer and for people have never been to one before, then this is a great way to try something new without having to spend much money. Feeding our rare breed animals at Mary Arden’s farm is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and the woodland walk at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is a ideal for some gentle exercise and feeling in touch with nature.”
(*£1 Entry offer excludes GROUP BOOKINGS)
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[1] “Now is the winter of our discontent” is taken from “Richard III” by William Shakespeare
[1] “converting all your sounds of woe into hey nonny nonny” is taken from “Much Ado about Nothing” by William Shakespeare, Act II, Scene 3
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is an independent charity that cares for Shakespeare’s heritage. It owns five Shakespeare Houses in and around Stratford-upon-Avon:
· Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6QW
· Nash’s House & New Place, Chapel Street, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6EP
· Hall’s Croft, Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6BG
· Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Cottage Lane, Shottery, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9HH
· Mary Arden’s Farm, Station Road, Wilmcote, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9UN
Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Mary Arden’s Farm will be open from 10am to 4pm on Monday 19th January. Hall’s Croft and Nash’s House & New Place will be open from 11am to 4pm.
For further information about the houses, please visit www.shakespeare.org.uk
For further information and press enquiries please contact:
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Helen Robson – PR Manager
Direct line: 01789 207134
Mobile: 07887 661770
Email: helen.robson@shakespeare.org.uk