Shakespearean Portrait Sent to Edge of Space Celebrates 400 Years Since ‘First Folio’
In homage to William Shakespeare’s enduring literary legacy, a symbolic portrait of the renowned playwright, along with a recital of one of his timeless works, has been sent to the edge of space to honour the 400th anniversary of his celebrated “First Folio.”
Produced by British filmmaker Jack Jewers, the venture aims to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the publication of the “First Folio” on November 8, 1623, preserving Shakespeare’s unparalleled influence on global literature even centuries after he embarked on his illustrious career.
In a tribute to the milestone, Jewers propelled a portrait of Shakespeare along with a segment from the play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” toward Earth’s upper atmosphere using a weather balloon equipped with a camera and GPS tracker. Assisting with the space flight was a team from aerospace company Sent Into Space, according to a press release from inVerse Films.
The scenic journey was documented for a short film titled “Lovers and Madmen,” where the story unfolds as a young woman endeavors to partake in an art contest by endeavouring to dispatch Shakespeare’s portrait into the sky. Narrated by esteemed English actor Tom Baker, recognized for his portrayal of the fourth Doctor in “Doctor Who,” the film showcases Baker’s rendition of Shakespeare’s “More strange than true” speech from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” complemented by visuals of Earth’s horizon merging into the expanse of outer space.
This short film constitutes a segment of a series created by filmmaker Jack Jewers, reimagining six of Shakespeare’s most revered speeches and poems for contemporary relevance in the 21st century, honoring the momentous anniversary.
Jewers expressed, “I had this image in my head: a portrait of Shakespeare – the universal playwright, whose work I truly believe speaks to everyone – backgrounded by space, with earth’s curvature in the background. What more fitting way to celebrate the universality of our human experience, and how it has been captured for 400 years by these wonderful words, than that?” in the press release.
Apart from exploring space travel, the film series delves into the contemporary relevance of Shakespeare’s words to the present, considering the impact of recent global events, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, conflicts in Ukraine, immigration issues, and the refugee crisis in Europe.
One film titled “Our Revels Now Are Ended,” drawing inspiration from Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” examines the themes of solitude and social isolation during the pandemic and the joyous feelings of reuniting with loved ones following the lifting of lockdown restrictions.
Jewers articulated, “The parallels are uncanny and Shakespeare’s words are fresher now than ever before in their ability to speak powerfully to our own contemporary lives,” highlighting the enduring relevance and timelessness of Shakespeare’s prose in current contexts.
The films are set for online release on Wednesday following their premiere screening in London.
