Obama Visits Globe Theater; London Remembers Shakespeare's Death

LONDON (CBSNewYork/AP) -- If all the world's a stage, William Shakespeare is its architect.

The 400th anniversary of the playwright's death is being marked across Britain with parades, church services and -- of course -- stage performances. The play's the thing, after all.

Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616, his 52nd birthday.

Photos: England Remembers 400th Anniversary Of Shakespeare's Death

President Barack Obama is visiting Shakespeare's Globe theatre in London on Saturday, and the Royal Shakespeare Company is mounting a stage extravaganza with performances by Judi Dench, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ian McKellen -- and even Prince Charles.

Around the world, the Bard is more popular than ever. Dominic Dromgoole, artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe, says the playwright's popularity is only likely to grow.

He says "we haven't scratched the surface of how far and how deep he can speak to different communities.''

On Friday, Obama dined with Queen Elizabeth II before meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron as he tours England this weekend. The two heads of state sat down at Windsor Castle, just west of London. First lady Michelle Obama and Prince Philip, the queen's husband, joined in on the meal.

This is expected to be Obama's last trip to Britain while in office.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.