Institute director Professor Michael Dobson reflects on the history and development of the world’s best-known centre of excellence for Shakespeare studies. For 75 years, the Shakespeare Institute, a specialist unit at the university, has been the world’s best-known centre of excellence in Shakespearean research and education. Mason Croft, Stratford base of Birmingham University’s Shakespeare InstituteI often wonder what Allardyce Nicoll would think of the Institute now. William Shakespeare remains the all-time giant of the creative industries in the West Midlands, and thanks to the Institute, Shakespeare studies remains one of the University of Birmingham’s signature specialisms. In 2027, the university will be launching a Creative Industries department, with which the Shakespeare Institute looks forward to working.