Just two weeks ahead of the London 2012 Olympics, the British Museum will be opening its ‘London 1612: Shakespeare’s Theatre of the World‘ exhibition. The show aims to explore the role of the capital as an emerging international city 400 years ago, as interpreted through Shakespeare’s plays.

Among the 150 exhibits that will go on display is the Ides of March coin, dating from 43-42 BC  and commemorating the murder of Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BC, and a rare copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio, published seven years after Shakespeare’s death in 1623.

Leading Shakespearean actors, such as Simon Callow, will be taking part in a ‘performance’ section of the exhibition, where they will be filmed enacting excerpts from Shakespeare’s works.

The exhibition is sponsored by BP and opens on July 12, 2012.