As the world continues to revere the timeless words of William Shakespeare, a unique tribute ascends to the edge of space, honouring 400 years since the publication of the “First Folio.” British filmmaker Jack Jewers has orchestrated a celestial celebration, launching a portrait of Shakespeare and a speech from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” into the upper atmosphere. This feat was achieved with aerospace specialists Sent Into Space, marking a fusion of art and science.
The “First Folio,” a compendium of 36 plays that saved 18 of Shakespeare’s works from being lost to time, was printed in 1623, seven years after the bard’s death. Its preservation is pivotal to the survival of masterpieces like “Macbeth,” as Reuters notes. The recent venture sees Shakespeare’s visage and verse, tethered to a weather balloon, ascend beyond the terrestrial realm, captured by the lens of a camera and tracked by GPS for the film “Lovers and Madmen.” Narrated by actor Tom Baker, best known for his role in “Doctor Who,” the film presents a young woman’s artistic ambition to elevate Shakespeare’s legacy, quite literally, to new heights.
The initiative forms part of a sextet of short films by Jewers, each reenvisioning the bard’s iconic speeches and poems through a contemporary lens. These films delve into the pertinence of Shakespeare’s text in our current milieu, reflecting on themes such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the European refugee crisis. The film “Our Revels Now Are Ended,” drawing from “The Tempest,” particularly resonates with the solitude experienced during the pandemic and the subsequent joy of post-lockdown reunions.
In a statement, Jewers reflects on the inspiration behind this project, musing on the universality of Shakespeare’s work against the backdrop of space, a poetic nod to the collective human experience. “The parallels are uncanny,” Jewers remarks, drawing connections between the tumult of 1623 and the recent global adversities, showcasing Shakespeare’s enduring relevance.
As the series of films is ready for online release, with a premiere in London, Jack Jewers invites us to witness the bard’s work in a new light, transcending time and space constraints. In his words, Shakespeare’s eloquence is “fresher now than ever before,” continuing to echo through the ages and speak to the human condition, from the stage of the Globe to the vast expanse of the cosmos.
