MEMBERS of the Royal Shakespeare Company celebrated the Bard's birthday in style last Wednesday, despite being on the other side of the Atlantic.

The cast of As You Like It, currently on tour in Washington DC, cut a cake in honour of the playwright between performances at the Kennedy Center.

Meanwhile back in Stratford the big birthday passed by almost unnoticed within the hallowed walls of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, which was closed pending the preview performances of Measure for Measure, which formed part of the official celebrations on Saturday,