RSC dinner, Shakespeare's 400th anniversary

Shakespeare remembered on midsummer night at Hampton Court. It was a long time since the Old Hall had heard the sound of glasses clinking, the hum of conversation, of toasts to the great, had seen sparkle of jewels and beauty, the graciousness of white cloth and handsome centerpieces, the atmosphere of fame, wit and fortune. Two hundred and fifty years ago George II had used Hampton Court for a banquet and after that it lay empty until a fitting occasion, when last night the Royal Shakespeare Company gave a dinner in honour of Shakespeare's 400th anniversary on Midsummer Night. There in the great old room where King Henry VIII and Cardinal Wolsey gave magnificent feasts, famous actors and actresses, patrons of the arts, lovers of the theatre, and public personalities of all kinds gathered last night to celebrate the greatest English playwright ever. Permission was given by Her Majesty the Queen to use the hall again, and any profits arising will be given to the Actors Charity Trust. Keystone Shakespeare's banquet against the old tapestries which line the Hall

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

400th Arising Banquet Centerpieces Clinking Diner Feasts Fifty Fitting Hampton Handsome Heard Jewels Kinds Magnificent Majesty Midsummer Patrons Permission Profits Remembered Sparkle Tapestries Toasts Wolsey

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