Shakespeare: Staging the World

Discover what London was like in Shakespeare's day at the British Museum.

Shakespeare: Staging the World at the British Museum

London's British Museum presents a major new exhibition on the world and works of William Shakespeare.

Shakespeare: Staging the World explores the influence, cultures and realities of life in London four centuries ago through the bard's famous works, characters and performances – plus historic objects of the day including:

• Paintings
• Jewels
• Rare manuscripts
• The Ides of March coin: the gold coin commemorating the assassination of Julius Caesar
• The Lyte Jewel: presented to Thomas Lyte in 1610 in thanks for tracing James I's lineage through Banquo, whose murder is a key element in Shakespeare's Macbeth, to Brutus

The exhibition, a collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company, is part of the World Shakespeare Festival – and the London 2012 Festival.