Photo Credit: Steven Depolo via cc
“Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind”
(Hamlet Act III, Scene i)
Every actor loves a bit of the Bard, so when you are searching for a birthday, christmas or opening night present for the actor in your life then look no further than our list of William Shakespeare inspired presents. These would also make wonderful graduation gifts for a drama student or a perfect thankyou present for your drama teacher.
I have tried to cover presents which will suit every budget from pocket money treats to extravagant spoils!
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This cute Lego William Shakespeare is a great collectors item and he comes with his own little quill and ‘To Build or Not To Build’ parchment. This little lego figure would sit nicely on the desk of any drama teacher or as a good luck charm for any dressing room!
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This fantastic and quirky skull mug is a perfect present for any thespian! Release your inner Hamlet and practise your best ‘Alas, poor Yorrick’ soliloquoy whilst enjoying a pre-show or interval cuppa! Shakespeare and his contemporaries and the scholars of the time would often keep a skull on their desk as a reminder of the transience of life.
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These wall decals have become a bit of a trend recently and are a super way to liven up any space. They have a matt finish so look like they have been painted on to your wall and are easy to apply and easy to remove without damaging any surface. This one bears the lovely quote “Its Not In The Stars To Hold Our Destiny But In Ourselves” and is available in lots of colours.
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WOW! A Boxset of 34 BBC dramatisations of Shakespeare’s plays. These productions ran on tv from 1978 to 1985 and they can seem pretty dated at times but they are a must for any Shakespear fan. You get to witness some of this countries best actors playing the Bard’s roles: Anthony Hopkins Othello, Bob Hoskins as Iago, Brian Glover as Bottom, Helen Mirren as Titania, and Penelope Wilton as Desdemona are just a few of my personal stand outs but there are many many more.
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70cm x 50cm Wall Art inspired by Romeo and Juliet. The entire play is on this poster which is printed on heavy weight satin finish paper. These look absolutely stunning framed and would make a great gift for any drama obsessed friend or family member.
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The UK has gona a bit Meerkat mad and this quirky 27cm high little Shakespeare meerkat might just be the perfect gift for a meerkat loving thespian!! Tongue firmly in cheek and a little bit tacky in the best possible way this one is gonna be a marmite gift – you’ll either love it or hate it!
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A gorgeous gift for any actor and a reminder that time heals all wounds! The Shakespeare Twelfth Night quote “O time, thou must untangle this, not I, it is too hard a knot for me t’untie!” rotates around the watch with each passing minute. This quality quartz water resitant (not water proof) 33mm diameter face watch comes on a leather strap and in a beautiful presentation box.
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What present do you get the actor in your life? A Shakespeare Rubber Duckie of course!! This is a cute little pocket money, stocking filler gift which is great for a first night present or secret Santa treat …. and yes If you do squeeze it, it will squeak!
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Why not put your feet up with a cuppa and educate yourself in some nice new insults to throw around in your next dress or tech rehearsal! This Shakespeare insults mug is a perfect gift for a theatre director or actor, its a nice big mug too so great for a mega-cuppa!
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These Star Wars Shakespeare mash-ups really are a laugh out loud treat! The Empire Strikes Back is the darkest film in the trilogy and so this film makes this a great Shakespearean tragedy. Again there are beautiful Renaissance style illustrations throughout and what could there be better than Yoda talking in pentameter!
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This pewter pocketwatch comes in a presentation box making it a truly beautiful gift. Each side of the watch opens, one reveals the clock workings the other the clock face. Shakespeare’s portrait and the dates 1564 – 1616 decorate the outer casing. The watch is hand wound. A real keepsake.
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The final chapter in Ian Doescher’s masterful retelling of the Star Wars trilogy via the medium of Shakespeare. The familiar characters talking and soliloquising in elegant iambic pentameter never fails to raise a smile and the illustrations are just breathtaking. Honestly, I would LOVE to see these translated to the stage.
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‘May the verse be with you!’ If you have ever thought how would Shakespeare have approached Star Wars – then think no more! This beautifully illustrated book is a fun find and would make a great gift for any actor. You get the whole space age story, as told by Shakespeare himself. “’Tis a tale told by fretful Droids, full of faithful Wookiees and fearsome Stormtroopers”
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Pewter William Shakespeare cufflinks which come in a gift box. Each cufflink measures 2.25cm. This is a perfect present for the male Shakespeare lover in your life. Classy, quirky, unique and look lovely on a dress shirt without being too ‘am-dram’ if you know what I mean!
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This vintage style cameo locket comes in a gift box, The outer face has the famous Lady Macbeth quote ‘Out Damn Spot’ along with a small droplet of blood, the locket opens and has spaces for two photographs. The locket comes on a 28 inch matching chain.
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A sterling silver charm which features the comedy and tragedy masks and the famous ‘To Be Or not To Be’ quote. This would make a really unique gift for a bracelet or necklace. Small but perfect.
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The entire play A midsummer Nights Dream is written on this super poster with its love potion design. These One Pafge posters look absolutely stunning framed. A terrific gift for an actor or theatre obsessed friend which will be gratefully received.
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A fun 11 inch William Shakespeare Doll decked out in his full Elizabethan garb from the leather boots all the way to his ruffled collar. The soft bodied doll has a good booty making him a great ‘sitter’ for a desk or bookshelf – his velvet shirt even makes this bard cuddly! Fanastic gift for an actor or a drama teacher.
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Shakespeare phrases have entered the English language more often than you would think – In my minds eye, the milk of human kindness, In a pickle, make your hair stand on end – all these and more are phrases which originally came from the good Bard himself. This mug comes boxed and makes a great gift for the Shakespeare fan in your life.
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This poster is 70cm x 50cm and would look stunning framed. It is actually the entire text of Hamlet on one sheet with a Hamlet and Yorrick cut out and the words To Be Or Not To Be – that is the question in bold exactly where the passage comes in the play.
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