Robert Armin Day Celebrates the Life and Legacy of the King’s Lynn-Born Shakespearean Comedian

Robert Armin Day, held this week in the heart of King's Lynn, celebrated the life and legacy of one of England's most renowned Shakespearean actors, writers and comedians. Robert Armin, was born in King's Lynn in 1565, played key comedy roles in many of William Shakespeare's greatest plays, including A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth. The celebration day was hosted by the team at St. George's Guildhall and held at King's Lynn Minster - the same place where Robert Armin was baptised - drew an enthusiastic crowd of over 500 children from schools across West Norfolk.

The event was a true testament to Armin's contributions to the world of theatre, combining education, entertainment and theatre in a lively and unforgettable celebration. The highlight was a captivating performance by 440 Theatre, who brought Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth to life with a fresh new twist. The plays were selected because Armin is thought to have portrayed both Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream and the Porter in Macbeth during his time with Shakespeare's company.

Throughout the performances, students were treated to energetic, modern interpretations of the plays, which demonstrated the timeless relevance of Armin's work with Shakespeare. With the use of creative staging, vibrant costumes, and a playful energy, the production held the student's attention and sparked a newfound appreciation for the Bard's works. Students cheered, screamed and laughed just as audiences would have done in Robert Armin's time.

Tim FitzHigham, Creative Director of the Guildhall, is also the country's leading authority on Robert Armin and is currently completing a PhD in Robert Armin at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford Upon Avon. It was Tim FitzHigham who discovered Robert Armin's baptism date and place.

"Robert Armin is so important to the history of comedy, he was baptised in the Minster 460 years ago this month, so we had to celebrate. We chose to celebrate with the children of the Borough as Robert Armin was also famous for working with children and training them for Shakespeare and other acting companies. There is so much information that we now know about Armin, and it sheds really important light on Armin who was probably one of Shakespeare's closest collaborators."

Tim continued:

"the message of Armin is clear for the children of our Borough: Robert Armin was born in Lynn and went on to be the most famous and brilliant comedian in the country; every child in this Borough can go on to be the best and most famous person at whatever they want to do! Without Armin we would not have Blackadder, Fawlty Towers or The Office - his influence is huge."

The Robert Armin Day also marked a significant step forward in promoting arts and cultures in West Norfolk, offering students an opportunity to experience live theatre in a historic and meaningful context. It is hoped that celebrating Armin becomes an annual event will continue to grow and inspire future generations of theatre lovers and young actors.

"Having the festival in the Minster, where Armin was baptised, is a fitting tribute,"

added Jane Hamilton, Learning and Engagement Officer at St. George's Guildhall.

"It was a day of both learning and celebration, and we're thrilled that so many children from West Norfolk had the chance to be part of something so special."

The success of the first Robert Armin Day ensures that future events will continue to honour Armin's legacy and King's Lynn's links to Shakespeare, while the historic St. George's Guildhall is closed for redevelopment. The popular Guildhall events programme will be coming out into the Town and wider Borough while this happens - the Town will become an arts centre and this is a start. The Guildhall's popular Dragon Festival is the next planned event, with free activities including live theatre, archery, animal handling and medieval weaponry taking places at venues across the town on Saturday 8th November. For more information, please visit the website www.stgeorgesguildhall.com.