This morning, Barnsley Libraries have taken part in a nationwide celebration of Shakespeare Week - the annual celebration of Shakespeare in primary schools, which is marking 10-year anniversary.

State-of-the-art Library @ the Lightbox has become a backdrop for a special performance from Laithes Primary School. Pupils have joined students from across the United Kingdom in a nationwide flashmob, performing an exciting production of The Tempest.

Barnsley Libraries have worked with Jo Stokes from As Creatives, who helped children from Laithes Primary School prepare the performance.

Following the performance, pupils enjoyed various activities at the Library @ the Lightbox. They were joined by the local poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan, poet laureate Eloise Unerman, and artist and printmaker Louise Wright in a series of workshops, creating their own poetry inspired by Shakespeare and designing bookmarks inspired by The Tempest.

Cllr Margaret Sheard, Cabinet Support Member for Public Health and Communities, said: “We are extremely excited to be taking part in this year’s national Shakespeare Week celebrations.

“Barnsley Libraries once again have shown the commitment in working with partners to make art and culture more accessible to our residents and bring exciting performances for everyone to enjoy.”

Sally Gray, Shakespeare Week Project Manager at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said: "It has been great to collaborate with the team at Barnsley Libraries to host the vibrant celebrations at Library @ the Lightbox.

"This year is significant as we mark 10 years of Shakespeare Week. Over the past decade, we have reached hundreds of thousands of children and teachers, helping to ensure that children's first experiences with Shakespeare are positive ones. We look forward to continuing to impact the lives of new generations through partnerships with cultural organisations and the enduring power of Shakespeare.”

Shakespeare Week, running from 18-24 March 2024, is organised, and delivered by a leading educational charity, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Throughout the week, several events will be taking place in libraries and cultural organisations across the country, and online via the Shakespeare Week website.

In the next few weeks, Barnsley Libraries will be receiving a ‘Shakespeare First Folio, All the Plays: A Children’s Folio’ – a special adaptation for children, creating a legacy of this event and allowing libraries to run activities in the future.