Chelsea LatelyChelsea MonthlyentertainmentGeneral NewsLocal NewsSpecial EventsTheatre

Prince Charles steals the show as part of Shakespeare Live!

1.34Kviews

Prince Charles joined actors Judi Dench, Tim Minchin, Harriet Walter, David Tennant, Paapa Essiedu, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rory Kinnear and Ian McKellen on stage as part of Shakespeare Live!, a special performance marking the 400th anniversary of the playwright’s death.

Saturday’s Shakespeare Live show in the playwright’s birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon included play scene performances, dance and music.The show also saw royal guest Prince Charles make a surprise appearance in a sketch from Hamlet.

The gala ended a day of national events which included President Obama visiting Shakespeare’s Globe theatre in London.

Screened live on BBC Two, the gala at Stratford’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre also saw performances from Benedict Cumberbatch, Sir Ian McKellen and Meera Syal.

Al Murray, the pub landlord, played Bottom to Dame Judi’s Titania and Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar played out the My Lady Disdain scene from Much Ado About Nothing.