The majestic Chancellor's Hall at the Senate House Library, London, received the honour of hosting the keynote lecture of 'Shakespeare: Metamorphosis', an exhibition commemorating the 400th anniversary of the legendary bard's death. Based on the 'Seven Stages of Man' soliloquy in the play As You Like It, the exhibition explores the evolution of Shakespeare's art until the present and projects the metamorphosis of his works in the future. 

This talk was the first in a series of lectures devoted to salute the dramatist's ingenuity. Titled 'William Shakespeare: 1616 – 2116', the lecture analysed the influence of Shakespeare's writing in Europe and explored why his much revered works continue to flourish and adapt, enchanting a worldwide audience. Speaker Jonathan Bate, celebrated literary critic, author, and academic, toured the evolution of Shakespeare's works from 1616 to the present. Shakespeare's dramas and poems traversed a sundry path, from being being the brainchildren of a nameless scribbler to ascending the pedestal of the sublime inspiration of a revered artist. 

The speaker then probed the future, exploring the digitization of the dramatist's works, intended to effectively engage a wider audience while enhancing the accessibility of the writing through a new app. Of many insightful moments interspersed throughout the talk, one such moment included the Darwinian explanation of the flourishing of Shakespeare's work over the centuries. Bate eloquently described the flexibility of Shakespeare's style and content, as well as universal symbols and interpretation of the human condition. These features enabled the bard's works to be interpreted, scrutinized, analysed, adapted, modified, and re-imagined by various cultures and societies. 

The speaker also shared how the purpose of drama – that is, to ask the right questions – enables the reader to bring her own perspectives to the art. This aids in the adaptation and proliferation of the work as characters start speaking in line with the perceptions of the reader. Lastly, the speaker interpreted some interesting portraits and sculptures of Shakespeare, illustrating how these leveraged the influence and scope of the dramatist's works. 

The talk was followed by a wine reception, where many audience members lingered to chat amongst themselves and with the speaker. Also of note was the small glass display of early 19th century editions of some of Shakespeare's works, including a small leather-bound copy of Hamlet. Some visitors were seen observing these with interest, having taken detailed notes during the talk. Overall, the inaugural lecture for Shakespeare: Metamorphosis was a success, impressively launching the exhibition. Well attended by academic scholars as well as members of the general public, 'William Shakespeare: 1616 – 2116' introduced the audience to an aspect of the legendary bard's work many may never have paused to think about.