May 5, 2026
Kevin Colls reading the curse on Shakespeare’s grave inside Holy Trinity Church in Stratford Upon Avon, United Kingdom.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Colls.
On March 29, 2026, the AIA Lincoln/Omaha Society hosted the first of two events that was part of their “Shakespeare and Archaeology” series this spring. The Society received a Society Outreach Grant towards the events.
During the first event, the Society screened the film “The Lost King,” which tells the story of how amateur historian Philippa Langley was able to pinpoint the burial place of King Richard III (made famous in Shakespeare’s play) in a parking lot on Leicester. For her efforts in finding the king’s remains, Ms. Langley was awarded the MBE by the Queen, and Richard’s remains were permanently interred within Leicester Cathedral. Immediately after the credits stopped rolling, Philippa Langley herself appeared on the screen in a Zoom appearance and engaged with the audience some of the details regarding the discovery not included in the film and then participated in a lively Q&A. Over 80 people came to the event which was free and open to the public.
The second event was held on April 9 and was an in-person lecture by Kevin Colls, an archaeologist whose team conducted excavations at the home of Shakespeare as well as the grave site at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. More than 100 people attended the lecture and it was very well-received, and the Society is planning to host similar events in the future!
