EALING will play host to various events celebrating the cultural impact of Shakespeare 400 years on from his death this weekend.

The Questors Theatre is tonight opening a reimagination of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night that portrays the play’s main heroine as a refugee.

The comedy centres on the disorder of mistaken identity and intertwined romantic relationships in what is one of the bard’s most famous plays.

Stuart Watson, the production’s director, said: "At the beginning of the play a young woman, Viola, is washed up on an unfamiliar shore.

“Her beloved twin brother – as she thinks – is lost to the waves when their boat sank.

“She is distressed, bereaved, alone.

“She looks up and asks: 'What country is this?' In the light of the European migration crisis that image just screamed 'refugee' to me."

The play is on from April 22-30.

Watermans Arts Centre, Brentford, will tonight have a performance from the Hip Hop Shakespeare Company, founded by rapper Akala, where sonnets and poems will be put into rap form. 

Among the centre’s span of weekend activities is Genetic Moo’s interactive play space that uses kinetic sensors to turn movement into digital projections. 

The play space is available all weekend and workshops will be put on to demonstrate how to turn these graphical projections into adaptations of Shakespeare’s Tempest.

Erica Weston, the centre’s marketing director, said: “Watermans is always trying to inspire people through the arts and Shakespeare is one of the greatest.

“To take Shakespeare and look at him in a fresh new light is something that is a real joy for us to programme.”

Pitshanger Pictures, a community cinema on Pitshanger Lane, will be showing film adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays from Saturday to Monday.

Ian Hamerton, the founder of the cinema, said: “At Pitshanger Pictures we are keen to appeal to as wide an audience as possible therefore we chose three completely different takes on Shakespeare plays.”

They will be showing Kenneth Branagh’s production of Much Ado About Nothing on Saturday, Guiseppe Verdi’s operatic version of Macbeth on Sunday and Henry V starring Laurence Olivier on Monday.

Mr Hamerton said that the cinema screens films that stimulate conversation and discussion about aspects of life.

Greenford and Northolt library have both organised Shakespeare talks and colouring activities for 5-10 year olds from 11-12pm tomorrow.

Ealing Central Library will be launching the Truth and Reconciliation exhibition tomorrow, from 1-4pm, which will also commemorate the playwright’s work.

The exhibition’s theme is Truth and Reconciliation, which will be reflected in its displays of quotations from Shakespeare’s work as well as a craft workshop.

Image courtesy of Questors Theatre, with thanks