Shakespeare book takes centre stage

28 March 2011

After having been in the museum’s collection for over seven decades, the Shakespeare First Folio has finally gone on permanent display in Skipton. The new display opened to the public on 25 March 2011 following a hugely successful private preview. Dr Anthony James West, a leading First Folio expert, gave a speech about his discovery of the Skipton First Folio and declared the purpose-built display room open.

Print historian Brian Aldred has set his interpretation of the Actors page from Henry Fifth in the Skipton First Folio on the museum’s printing press and at the preview he was entertaining guests by printing the page. These original prints are now available to buy from the museum gift shop for £5 and all proceeds go towards the ongoing preservation of the First Folio.

Local businesses sponsored the preview event and the celebration event during the First Folio’s opening weekend. Thanks go to Caltech CRM, R N Wooler & Co Ltd, Skipton Castle, Dean Taylor Productions and The North Space for their support.

The new display of this fascinating and rare book has been very well publicised on regional radio and in the Yorkshire press:
BBC York & North Yorkshire
Yorkshire Post
Telegraph & Argus
Craven Herald & Pioneer

Find out more about the Shakespeare First Folio.