William Shakespeare liked a performance, but might be slightly confused at the way his 454th birthday has been marked in his home town of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Still life was the order of the day as living statues from around the world congregated at the Bard’s birthplace.

The muted and inert performances may have lacked the playwright’s way with words, but nonetheless made for a spectacular show in Bancroft Gardens.

A young girl looks at British performer Flower Man (Aaron Chown/PA)
A young girl looks at British performer Flower Man (Aaron Chown/PA)
A lady sits next to British performer The Goldman (Aaron Chown/PA)
A lady sits next to British performer The Goldman (Aaron Chown/PA)
A young boy watches Dutch performer Ye Olde Bench  (Aaron Chown/PA)
A young boy watches Dutch performer Ye Olde Bench (Aaron Chown/PA)
Polish performers The Bubble Fairies (Aaron Chown/PA)
Polish performers The Bubble Fairies (Aaron Chown/PA)
Another British entry The Chimney Sweep (Aaron Chown/PA)
Another British entry The Chimney Sweep (Aaron Chown/PA)
Another admirer of The Goldman during the National Living Statue Competition (Aaron Chown/PA)
Another admirer of The Goldman during the National Living Statue Competition (Aaron Chown/PA)
Performers The Goldman (centre) and Bubble Fairies get to know eachother (Aaron Chown/PA)
Performers The Goldman (centre) and Bubble Fairies get to know eachother (Aaron Chown/PA)
British and German performers The Greenmen perform for the public (Aaron Chown/PA)
British and German performers The Greenmen perform for the public (Aaron Chown/PA)
The Gold Mirror Man, from Australia, came a long way for the National Living Statue Competition (Aaron Chown/PA)
The Gold Mirror Man, from Australia, came a long way for the National Living Statue Competition (Aaron Chown/PA)
As Shakespeare said, all the world's a stage (Aaron Chown/PA)
As Shakespeare said, all the world’s a stage (Aaron Chown/PA)