That’s when a plethora of stars will take to the stage of the Gielgud Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue for an evening of readings and recitals. Ned Sherrin will host, and the cast list will include Paul Scofield, Ian Richardson, Donald Sinden, Judi Dench (who is starring at that address in the RSC’s production of All’s Well That Ends Well), Martin Jarvis and Michael Pennington. The show is a co-production between the RSC, RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) and The Shakespeare Guild, by arrangement with Thelma Holt and Bill Kenwright. Proceeds from the evening will go to a bursary for RADA students and the RSC’s Stratford-based voice and verse training program. Other events in the centenary celebrations include a discussion about Gielgud’s life featuring Barbara Jefford, Jonathan Croall, John Miller and Richard Mangan at London’s Theatre Museum on April 1, a lecture by Croall (who wrote “Gielgud – A Theatrical Life”) at the National Portrait Gallery on April 8 and a reading of Gielgud’s Letters at the National Theatre on April 14.

Wiedenfeld & Nicolson have also just published Gielgud's letters.