EVENTS will be taking place across Greater Manchester this weekend to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare.

As well as commemorations this weekend, many libraries and museums will be holding further events over the next month and through the summer.

Libraries across Rochdale and Trafford will be hosting a ‘Shakespeare selfie day’.

The idea is for people to come into their local library, find their favourite Shakespeare quote and tweet a picture of themselves holding a placard with the quote on, alongside the hashtag #Shakespeare2016.

The anniversary of his death is on Saturday, the bard having died at the age of 52 on the April 23, 1616.

By coincidence it was the same day Spanish writer Miguel Cervantes died and was subsequently selected as World Book Day.

A joint commemoration of the deaths is being held by Manchester Central Library, with performances by theatre and language students who will recite some of their best known works and provide an overview of their authors’ contributions to the arts.

The John Rylands Library will be screening the 2015 production of Macbeth on Thursday night and has recently put copies of Shakespeare’s first folio and sonnets on display to the public on the library’s first floor, these will be on display until September.

Bolton Central Library and Museum will be putting on a family fun day, with arts and crafts and storytelling which will run from 11am until 3.30pm.

The screening of Macbeth will be at 7pm on Thursday, April 21 at the John Rylands Library and ‘Tilting at Windmills: Cervantes Meets Shakespeare 400 Years On’ is at Manchester Central Library from 2-4pm on Saturday, April 23.

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