An image of playwright William Shakespeare and a copy of a dialogue from one of his plays were sent to the edge of space via a balloon as part of a series of short films, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the publication of the first edition of Shakespeare's "First Folio."
To celebrate the anniversary of the publication, director Jack Giers produced six short films tackling contemporary themes, including space exploration, the impact of the COVID pandemic, and the war in Ukraine, utilizing six of Shakespeare's stories and poems. In an interview with Reuters, Giers stated, "A small excerpt from the poem 'Lovers and Madmen' from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' was incorporated into the image." He added, "I like the idea that Shakespeare's words are soaring in space along with his portrait."
Shakespeare's friends compiled the "First Folio" and published it on November 8, 1623, seven years after his death. It is believed that around 750 copies were printed, containing 36 of the 37 plays written by Shakespeare, some of which are comedies, while others are tragedies or historical. The "First Folio" is considered one of the most important books in English literature; without it, 18 plays, including "Macbeth," would have been lost to history.
