Book review: ‘James Shapiro’s Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare?’ The 2012 Olympics opening was inspired by Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” The ongoing World Shakespeare Festival, which runs in the UK until November, is the biggest celebration of the Bard ever staged, featuring 70 shows in 37 languages, including “King Lear” in Belarusian, “Hamlet” in Lithuanian, and “Troilus and Cressida” in Maori. There are 319 Shakespeare theaters and centers all over the world. The man’s works are more revered and acclaimed than ever.