Recycled Shakespeare Company will celebrate William Shakespeare’s 455^th Birthday with The Bard’s Birthday Bash on Saturday, April 20 in Waterville.

Throughout the day, participants will read all 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets, sing Shakespearean and Elizabethan songs, and experience performances of scenes, monologues and talks to recognize the works by Shakespeare.

The day is broken into a moving schedule. Sonnet readings and performances will take place in the following locations during: 10 a.m. to noon at the Waterville Public Library, 73 Elm St.; noon to 2 p.m. a procession through the Concourse, downtown Waterville, Castonguay Square, and up Main Street; 2-5p.m. Selah Tea, 177 Main St.  

In the evening, from 7 to 9 p.m., a masquerade ball will be held at the Skills Inc. Ervin Center, 46 Front St., Waterville. Those who attend can learn Elizabethan dances taught by Marge and Sam Bartlett of the Society for Creative Anachronism. These dances are similar to contra dancing. You do not need to come with a partner. Wear your favorite mask or costume, or borrow a mask from the RSC collection. Birthday cake and other refreshments will be provided.

This is a free, family friendly event. RSC is looking for people to volunteer as sonnet readers; the sonnets are short, 14-line poems which take about 1 minute to read. Many members of RSC and the general public will be dressed in Elizabethan garb, feel free to grab your slops, floppy hat, or kirtle if you would like to dress up too. Costumes are not a requirement to participate but do add to the fun. 

If you would like to read a sonnet or perform, call RSC Executive Director, Emily Rowden Fournier at 314-8607 or email RecycledShakespeare@gmail.com.

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