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Best Actress in a Musical nominee Tracie Bennett being interviewed at the Olivier Awards 2016 with MasterCard nominees’ celebration

Best Actress in a Musical nominee Tracie Bennett being interviewed at the Olivier Awards 2016 with MasterCard nominees' celebration

Video: Stars on dream Shakespeare roles

First Published 20 April 2016, Last Updated 22 April 2016

Theatreland loves celebrating landmarks and 2016 might just boast the biggest of them all, as the world gets ready to mark the anniversary of a staggering four centenaries since the death of the world’s most influential, and arguably greatest playwright, of all time.

We are, of course, talking about William Shakespeare. Unparalleled in his fame, popularity and the sheer frequency of his work being staged, the Bard may have been gone for 400 hundred years but his relevance and adoration from billions of lovers of his wit, poignancy and humanity around the world has never waivered.

As we draw closer to the anniversary itself this Saturday 23 April, we wanted to kick off the tributes to this theatrical legend by asking some of today’s most revered actors which of his many iconic characters they would most like to play.

You can’t get much more revered than an Olivier Award nominated performer, so that’s who we asked; quizzing everyone from Mrs Henderson Presents star and three-time Olivier nominee Emma Williams to newcomer Phil Dunster.

From Tracie Bennett as King Lear to Jemima Rooper as Lady Macbeth, watch the video above and keep your fingers crossed these great actors get their chance to raise the skull, dagger or deadly handkerchief of their choice…

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