The annual Shakespeare Memorial at Mayflower Bookshop will take place on Sunday April 26, 2026. This special event, held close to the birth and death date of William Shakespeare, combines a commemoration with a lecture as part of the Crime Classics series.

Titled “Kill ‘Bill’ Shakespeare? The Bard and His Villains,” the lecture reflects on the enduring presence of crime in Shakespeare’s works. Although the word “crime” itself appears only sparingly in his complete oeuvre, his plays, especially the tragedies and history plays, are filled with acts of deceit, betrayal, violence, and murder. From the brutality of Titus Andronicus to the political scheming of Richard III and the dark ambition of Macbeth, Shakespeare’s dramatic world offers a rich landscape of criminal behaviour.

The programme begins at 16:00 with a gathering at Mayflower Bookshop, followed by a short walk to Sonnet 30 (Rapenburg/Houtstraat), where a commemoration will be led by Leo van Zanen. After returning to the bookshop, Wim Tigges will deliver a concise lecture in English exploring Shakespeare’s treatment of crime across selected works.

Sunday April 26, 2026: 16.00

Admission: Free

Mayflower Bookshop, Breestraat 70, Leiden

Full programme:

16.00 Meeting point at Mayflower Bookshop
16.05 Walk to Sonnet 30 (Rapenburg/Houtstraat)
16.10 Commemoration by Leo van Zanen (English/Dutch)
16.20 Walk back to Mayflower Bookshop
16.30 Kill ‘Bill’ Shakespeare – Short lecture by Wim Tigges on Shakespeare & Crime (English)