CARAVANNERS WHO HEADED to Stratford today, intending to explore Shakespeare’s haunts may have been confused by Warwickshire road signs that have the word ‘Shakespeare’ crossed out.

 

The reason for the apparent vandalism is due to new Shakespeare film Anonymous. The film, starring Vanessa Redgrave as Elizabeth 1, claims that Shakespeare’s plays were in fact written by Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford.

 

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It’s not the first time that the Bard’s authorship has been challenged but the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust claims the film ignores historical facts. Members of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford have temporarily taped over the word Shakespeare on some of the county’s road signs in protest over a new film about the Bard.

 

Much ado about nothing?

The Trust is worried that defrocking the Bard will mean Stratford losing its ability to draw tourists but there’s nothng to worry about.

 

Practical Caravan’s Mark Bigault visited Stratford in June 2009 and had a brilliant time without referring to the town’s literary heritage at all.

 

“The town can’t be a one-trick pony,” reasoned Mark. He visited Trinity Church (pictured), despite it being where the Bard is buried and had the wits scared out of him on a ghost tour at Shrieve’s House (pictured below). To read MB’s account, originally printed in the June 2009 issue of Practical Caravan, click the links below!

 

‘Stratford without Shakespeare’  Page 1, 2, 3 and 4