Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking with the British Council to expand access to Shakespeare for young people in the UK and overseas, particularly through digital and outreach initiatives.

Shakespeare has no equal for global recognition and influence in English literature and continues to be a source of inspiration for new productions and creations across all artforms and media which the British Council supports and champions globally.

The UK Government provides support to the British Council through the grant-in-aid for its arts and culture work, supporting organisations such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. In addition, many Shakespeare organisations receive support through Arts Council England (ACE).

The British Council has a number of digital resources available on their website following the major year-long global programme of events on the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death in 2016, where more than 140 countries took part in the festivities, with people experiencing Shakespeare through film screenings, exhibitions, performances and in schools, alongside a programme of unique online collaborations.