We’re entering the final stages of preparation for our brand new exhibition at New Place, which will focus on Shakespeare’s life and time spent in Stratford-upon-Avon. The text is near completion and the objects have all been chosen, so now we are just working our way through the final stages of development.
A new extension will house additional facilities as well as the exhibition, which will lead on through to the back of Nash’s House. We are working together with renowned London based design company Real Studios who will be creating the graphics and fine tuning the final layout design for the exhibition.
We found some time to catch up with our Interpretation Manager, Nic Fulcher, to ask him a few questions about what he thinks about the upcoming exhibition.
What story can we expect to be told throughout the exhibition?
“The exhibition will tell the history of New Place and the significance of Shakespeare’s ownership of the property. It will also present the wider aspect of Shakespeare – he was a talented playwright, but he was also a husband, father, successful businessman and a part of the local Stratford society of his day.”
What do you think the most important objects in the collection will be?
“All of the objects in the collections are important! They are how we know information about Shakespeare’s life and the time he lived in. The exhibition will provide the opportunity to see some of the original documents that prove Shakespeare’s ownership of New Place.”
What has been your key inspiration for exhibition design?
“I wanted the exhibition to be as engaging and visually exciting as the development of the site of New Place. The exhibition provides an opportunity for people to gain a greater insight into what Shakespeare’s life at New Place may have been like.”
How do you think the transformation of New Place will benefit Stratford and SBT?
“The re-imagining of New Place will provide a focal point in the centre of Stratford, drawing people towards another part of the Shakespeare story. It is the only place in the world where visitors are able to make a direct connection with the adult Shakespeare – this is where he lived, worked, wrote, played with his children and saw them get married. For the Trust, the transformation of this site will support us in telling those wider stories about his life and the man behind the writing.”