Every April the 23rd, Shakespeare's hometown bursts into life as theatre enthusiasts come together to celebrate his life and works.

In case the buzz has passed you by, 2016 is a bit of a big year for the Bard, marking the 400th anniversary of his death. As such, this year's celebrations look set to be the most spectacular yet, with a weekend full of workshops, tours, live shows, screenings, concerts, visual art and more.

In the build-up to the big day, on Tuesday the 19th, tenor Joseph Calleja and soprano Angel Blue perform operatic classics inspired by Shakespeare's works in a gala concert at Holy Trinity Church. 
The same day, Stratford Picturehouse begins a Shakespeare-themed film festival by screening Michael Elliot's 1963 version of As You Like It.

On Friday the 22nd, Margaret Drabble, Stanley Wells and Michael Wood discuss Shakespeare's family and friends in a special birthday lecture at The Shakespeare Centre, ending with a poetry reading from Wendy Cope. That evening at Holy Trinity, Ex Cathedra perform Garrick's Shakespeare Ode, set by Thomas Arne, alongside a brand new ode with words by Carol Ann Duffy and music by Sally Beamish. Featuring period instruments, this concert goes on to tour the Midlands.

At 10.30am on Saturday the 23rd, the Birthday Parade kicks off at Shakespeare's Birthplace, led by the Head Boy of Shakespeare's alma mater, King Edward VI School. From there, a colourful procession travels through town, ending at Holy Trinity, where Shakespeare is buried.

At the Royal Shakespeare theatres, part of the newly refurbished Swan Wing is unveiled, complete with an original artwork by Steven Follen. Comprised of over 2,000 stainless steel stars, For All Time is the RSC's largest ever site-specific art commission.

Meanwhile, in the Paccar Room, an exhibition called Well Said! displays Shakespeare quotes selected by actors and artists, including playwright Tanika Gupta, Hamlet star Paapa Essiedu and rapper Doc Brown. 
Home to the RSC's costume store, the recently relaunched Other Place will also be open for Page To Stage Tours.

Outside, visitors can enjoy live music and sonnets on the ferry, or get stuck in to workshops on stage fighting, dance and voice work. Active Storytelling workshops engage with current RSC productions, while in Blood, Guts And Gore, make-up artists create realistic cuts and bruises.

 At 2 and 4pm, Mimbre present a 30-minute acrobatic performance called Wondrous Strange. There'll also be opportunities to meet the artists and ask them all your burning questions, or to participate in a self-guided tour of Stratford devised by Stan's Café, using speech bubbles at eight locations as instructions to act out mini dramas.

The birthday itself culminates in an exclusive, balloted event inside the theatre, broadcast live on BBC2 and in select cinemas. With a stellar guest list including David Tennant, Judi Dench and Ian McKellen, the variety bill features ballet, opera, hip-hop, scenes from Shakespeare and more, and ends with a free, public fireworks display outside.

 Don't stay out too late though: there's more to come! For those up early enough on Sunday morning, a Shakespeare-themed service, broadcast on Radio Four, takes place at Holy Trinity, with music from Orchestra of the Swan. This is also the day of the Shakespeare Marathon and Half-Marathon. 

Meanwhile, at the Birthplace, New York rapper Devon Glover embarks on a marathon of his own as he races through all 154 of Shakespeare's sonnets.

There'll be plenty more as the month and year continue - this is just a flavour of what's on offer for the main event. 

Of course, Stratford's not the only town to be celebrating...

An elizabethan travelling theatre company Looking at how Shakespeare’s plays were performed at the time, Sat 23 Apr, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent

From Bard to Verse The original music of Shakespeare’s plays performed by The Night Watch, Sat 30 April, Palace Theatre, Redditch

Our shakespeare exhibition A  free exhibition of Shakespeare-related items from around the world, Fri 22 April - Sat 2 September, Library of Birmingham

Ex cathedra shakespeare masque concert A reconstruction of Thomas Arne’s An Ode To Shakespeare, Fri 22 April, Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare’s Will Performed by Rain Or Shine Theatre on Sat 2 April, Severn Valley Country Park, Bridgnorth and Love Lee Productions on Wed 27 - Sat 30 April, The Wightman, Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury Shakespeare Day Music, songs and combat from Shakespeare’s time are just some of what’s on offer here, Sat 23 April, The Square, Shrewsbury

Shake Up Shakespeare Family Day Fun and interactive family day for children and their parents which brings two of the Bard’s best-known plays to life, Sat 23 April, The REP, Birmingham

Henry V Antic Disposition presents its critically acclaimed production as part of a UK cathedral tour, Thurs 28 April, Worcester Cathedral