William Shakespeare’s birthplace hosted a drama of its own on Sunday as Wen Jiabao, Chinese premier, began a trip to the UK with a visit not to the prime minister’s office or parliament but to the former home of England’s famous playwright.

Mr Wen, an avid reader of the Bard, was treated in the garden to a scene from Hamlet, one of his favourite plays. Two actresses from Shakespeare Aloud performed the scene just before Ophelia dies, when her madness is obvious as she hands flowers to those in the royal palace. Mr Wen was given the rosemary – representing remembrance – not the columbine (for ingratitude), which could have sparked a diplomatic incident.

Mr Wen sat on a bench with Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, playing tour guide, and members of the William Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.