AN unusual and fascinating evening is in store at Alton’s Allen Gallery next week when Dr Ailsa Grant Ferguson will give a talk on the celebrations of Shakespeare’s 300th anniversary in 1916, exactly 100 years ago and deep in the middle of the First World War.

This year sees the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and a whole range of special events and performances will be taking place across the country.

Dr Grant Ferguson, who was born and raised in Alton, and attended Amery Hill School and Alton College, is a lecturer in English literature at Brighton University. Her research on the 1916 celebrations has been published internationally and her book on the subject will be published by Bloomsbury next year.

“How on earth Shakespeare’s anniversary could be celebrated in wartime was such a difficult question but, in the end, the Britain was seen to need Shakespeare ‘the patriot’ and all sorts of unlikely and fascinating solutions were found – the show must go on!” she said.

“Superstar actors performed on tiny stages to soldiers, galas celebrated Shakespeare’s patriotism and one incredible book brought together voices from across the globe for the first time on Shakespeare and his influence.”

The talk, on Thursday, March 24, will focus on the “amazing” ways Shakespearean performance and commemoration survived under the Zeppelin raids and privations of wartime London, exactly 100 years ago and compare it to the ways we are celebrating Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary this year, she said.

Sheila John, the Allen Gallery volunteer organising the talk, said: “We are delighted that Ailsa is able to do this for us. She has visited the Allen Gallery regularly since she was a child living in Alton and has always supported everything we do.

“Now, we are so grateful that she is giving up her time in her very busy schedule in an exceptionally busy year, in which she is the organiser of a major conference on Shakespeare at her university as well as helping the National Theatre and the BBC celebrate Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary in April. This promises to be an informative and entertaining evening.”

The talk, at the Allen Gallery on Church Street, starts at 7.30 pm. Tickets, priced £5, are available from the Allen Gallery or by calling 01420 82802.