( CNN ) -- Add this to our list of fun ways to celebrate Shakespeare 's 450th birthday this week . Passengers on board an easyJet flight from Gatwick , England , to Verona , Italy , on April 23 became the surprise audience for an inflight performance of Shakespeare 's plays . Verona is a principal setting for Shakespeare 's `` Romeo and Juliet . '' The hour-long performance -- hosted by the airline as part of a campaign to have April 23 officially recognized as National Shakespeare Day -- was put on by actors from the Reduced Shakespeare Company . ( Shakespeare fans argue over April 23 or April 26 as his exact birthday . ) See a short video of the performance here . The plane had also been emblazoned with a portrait of the playwright . Armed with props and costumes , three actors paraded the aisle while running through abridged versions of every comedy and tragedy penned by the Bard . `` We hope to set a new Guinness World Record ... for the highest ever theatrical performance , '' said easyJet communications director Paul Moore in a statement . As a testament to the troupe 's entertaining performance , no crotchety complaints seem to have appeared ( yet ) on social media about lost sleep . `` Certainly , this was the most entertaining flight I have ever taken . It was a fabulous performance and great for the children , '' passenger Simon Cureton told Portsmouth News . While the airline has taken its Shakespeare Day campaign seriously , throwing free performances at airports , emblazoning the playwright on plane livery and promoting the best Shakespearean destinations in its inflight magazine , the campaign has a long way to go . The petition had 729 signatures at the time of writing . If it hits 100,000 , it will be considered by the House of Commons Backbench Business Committee .
A comedy troupe performed Shakespeare on an easyJet flight to Verona . The performance was in honor of Shakespeare 's 450th birthday this week . The UK airline is hosting a campaign for Shakespeare 's birthday to be recognized as National Shakespeare Day .