# Shakespeare Institute to be moved out of Stratford-upon-Avon, prompting a vow from its director to resign rather than ‘aid and abet’ the move

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/shakespeare-institute-to-be-moved-out-of-stratford-upon-avon-prompting-a-vow-from-its-director-to-resign-rather-than-aid-and-abet-the-move/
- Published: 2026-11-15T19:49:10+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-15T20:03:53+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16294615/Shakespeare-Institute-moved-Stratford-Avon-prompting-vow-director-resign-aid-abet-move.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- The institute is due to leave Stratford for Birmingham in 2027.
- Its director says he will resign rather than support the move.
- The university says its 60,000-item collection will be kept intact.

## Summary

The University of Birmingham plans to move its Shakespeare Institute from Stratford-upon-Avon to its Edgbaston campus for the 2027-28 academic year. The decision has prompted criticism from scholars and cultural figures, while the institute’s director, Professor Michael Dobson, says he will resign rather than help carry it out.

Founded in 1951, the postgraduate centre is based at Mason Croft, near Shakespeare’s childhood home, and has long offered programmes in Shakespeare studies. Dobson fears students may be less likely to enrol in Birmingham, putting courses and staff at risk. The university says the move is not a cost-cutting measure and that the institute’s collection of about 60,000 books and other materials will remain intact.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.