ON April 23, Shakespeare fanatics the world over will be celebrating the Bard’s 450th birthday.

To mark the occasion a Taunton playwright is posing a unique challenge to our community in an alternative fundraiser for the Brewhouse Theatre, which will soon re-open.

450 Minute Shakespeare is the brainchild of Vagina Monologues performer Jo Backhouse, of Staplegrove.

The live community participation event is designed to fill each of the 450 minutes of a normal working day on April 23 with “Shakespearean shenanigans”, wherever you are.

Jo said: “This town was here in Shakespeare’s time, and here we are, still dressing up in tights, strutting around, and doing weird things on stage.

“There’s still a need for theatre. It does something nothing else can – it’s not something you can do online. It’s irreplaceable.”

As a crowd funding event, 450 Minute Shakespeare wants to get all sections of the Taunton community involved, whether individuals, groups of friends, schools, colleges, community groups and businesses, large and small.

To do so you need to buy up a minute or more, starting at £1, to make your own miniature piece of Shakespearean Theatre.

You can do it wherever you are, and share the results of your activities via email or social media on the day.

The performance itself can be whatever you want it to be – a short performance, Shakespearean flashmob, reading a play aloud, baking Bard biscuits or submitting a Shakespearean picture.

Heathfield Community School and Court Fields School have already signed up.

Get involved at 450minuteshakespeare.weebly.com