“Cry ‘God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'” was the battle cry from Henry V at Agincourt, according to Shakespeare, and warriors reported that they saw their Patron Saint on the battlefield, fighting on the English side.

Shakespeare was actually born on St George’s Day, 23rd April, 1564 and, being the great patriarch he was, died on the same day in 1616. In those days, St George’s Day was a national feast day and a holiday in England, on a par with Christmas. The tradition died out at the end of the eighteenth century after the union of England and Scotland.

In recent years St. George’s Day is enjoying something of a comeback, with calls to revive the day as a national holiday. Whether photo opportunities with Boris and Dave eating fish ‘n’ chips in Spitalfields Market (Daily Mail, St. George’s Day 2013), or the St. George’s Day Show at Brick Lane Music Hall, have had anything to do with this, we couldn’t say. But St. George’s Day is celebrated all over the world and at Brick Lane Music Hall we see every reason to enjoy the tradition!

The St George’s Day Show opens on St George’s Day, April 23rd. You can read more about St. George’s Day and St. George’s Day trivia in our 2014 Souvenir Programme. There is also an English County Quiz, with an opportunity to win tickets for two to next year’s panto’ – remember to pick up your copy!