THIS year is the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare and although he is not known to have visited South Cumbria his plays have remained an important part of the cultural scene.

A century ago scenes from Twelfth Night were performed by members of the Old Scholars’ Union of the Victoria Grammar School at the Ulverston Drill Hall on November 4.

An article in the Ulverston News just before the 1916 performance noted: “The proceeds are to be devoted to the provision of Christmas parcels and other comforts for the 130 old boys of the grammar school who are serving with the colours.

“For such a truly worthy cause it is hoped there may be a big rush for tickets.”

Back in 1991 Ulverston Outsiders presented Hamlet and in 1992 chose Macbeth.

In 2000 a Musical Journey through the Millennium was arranged by pupils at St Pauls CE School, Barrow.

Among those taking part were 11-year-olds Alex Quinn as Henry VIII and Ben Tomlinson as William Shakespeare.

In this anniversary year there has been Shakespeare events in both Ulverston and Barrow.

The Shakespeare Theatre at Kendal was built in 1829 and was the town’s first purpose-built theatre.

It was designed by Kendal architect John Richardson and visited by famous Shakespearean stage actor Edmund Kean in 1832.

It closed just five years after opening, was used as a ballroom and converted to a church and community centre in 1994.

In Barrow the playwright’s name is recalled in Shakespeare Street. Shakespeare’s plays have left us with many words and expressions which are still in regular use but were also littered with references to money in all its forms.

A talk by Dr Barrie Cook at the Shrewsbury conference of the British Association of Numismatic Societies explained how viewers of the plays would have been familiar with coins and their names from many different countries.

Elizabthan market traders at places like Ulverston, Dalton and Broughton would have seen – and known the exchange value – of coins such as the ducat, dollar, denier and doit.

Dr Cook said: “The Merry Wives of Windsor is solid with monetary references of all sorts.”