Shakespeare’s Globe celebrates Bard’s 444th birthday
On Sunday Shakespeare's Globe opened its doors for a free party day of events and activities funded by the Greater London Authority.
Ahead of the 12 noon start of the festivities the queue of eager visitors stretched from the Globe to a point west of the Millennium Bridge.
To mark the start of the open day artists from Footsbarn Theatre – whose A Shakespeare Party show comes to the Globe next month – displayed their unique blend of visual theatre using puppets, dance and circus skills.
Outside the Globe Exhibition entrance red balloons were released. Although some got caught in the nearby trees most soared into the sky.
The Mayor of London funds the annual free open day at the Globe as part of London's St George's Day celebrations.
• On Wednesday – Shakespeare's Birthday itself – at 6pm a miniature Elizabethan playhouse on a barge will float from Butler's Wharf to Bankside entertaining spectators on the riverbank.
• The Globe's 2008 theatre season begins on Wednesday with King Lear.