All The World's A Stage . . . Especially On National Shakespeare Day!

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SJ Games Daily Illuminator for April 23, 2026

All The World's A Stage . . . Especially On National Shakespeare Day!

Did you know that today is National Shakespeare Day? No? Well, why not?!? It's only the day one of the greatest writers in history was born! It is also, coincidentally, the day he died. That's right! William Shakespeare was born on April 23rd, 1564, and died on that same date in 1616. 

 

What makes Shakespeare so great? For one thing, he was a prolific poet and playwright. There's a reason why, 400 years after they were written, Shakespeare's plays and sonnets are still taught in schools and performed on the stage. The Bard beautifully captured the essence of the human condition in his writings. That is a big part of why Shakespeare's plays and sonnets still appeal today.

 

For another thing, The Bard's writings were so prolific that we still use many of the words and phrases he coined! Have you ever been on a wild-goose chase? Do you wear your heart on your sleeve? Maybe you are a night owl who burns the candle at both ends? Have you been told you're too big for your breeches? Could it be that you've told a bad joke to break the ice? You can have too much of a good thing, and that is not for the faint-hearted. 

 

So, how does one celebrate National Shakespeare Day?

 

Attend a Shakespearean Performance - Find out if there's a theatre troupe performing a Shakespeare play near you. Get tickets, then enjoy the show! And if you think those plays are only for High Society, think again. Shakespeare wrote most of his plays for the commoner It only seems highbrow now because the way we speak English has changed.

 

Read a Sonnet - "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? . . ." Shakespeare's sonnets are probably the most accessible way to get a little of The Bard into your day. Sonnets are short poems, and you are likely more familiar with them than you might think.

 

Talk Like Shakespeare - This is similar to talking like a pirate, but with more "thee" and "thou" thrown in. If you happen to have a ruff you can wear and a large quill and scroll to carry around, that would help drive the point home.

 

Play a Shakespearean Game - Okay, this one is blatant pandering, but Munchkin Shakespeare Deluxe is a lot of fun! Not only does it have all the bad puns of Munchkin (Shakespeare loved puns, bad or otherwise), it also has a ton of cards based on phrases that were coined by The Bard himself! You could also play it fast and loose in the Globe Theatre . . . playmat, that is.

Remember - the world is your oyster on this National Shakespeare Day! 

 

-- Bridget Westerman