One million tickets for an expo of Shakespeare’s works in London are going on sale in just over a month’s time.

As Stansted Airport is close to the capital, visitors may want to check out flights now for next year’s “unprecedented and outrageous collaboration”.

The World Shakespeare Festival, beginning April 23 and ending in November, is organised by the Royal Shakespeare Company and is said to involve as many as 50 other arts organisations, including many from outside the UK.

It will showcase both the writer’s famous works and his lesser known plays in 70 separate productions.

Thousands of school children and teachers are expected to join about 7,200 amateur theatre producers.

Michael Attenborough, artistic director at London’s Almeida Theatre, which will host King Lear, said: “The greatest artistic passion of my life is directing Shakespeare, and challenges don’t come much more awesomely thrilling than tackling King Lear.”

The writer’s shows are part of the London 2012 Festival and is expected to attract people from across the world.

Special efforts are being made to include school pupils and their teachers in the events by encouraging them to share information globally. Specific materials are being designed for schools across the globe in a digital package called Shakespeare Unlocked.

Recent research shows that around 50% of the world’s school pupils study Shakespeare.

Copyright © Press Association 2011

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