In terms of timeless relevance and impact, it’s tough to argue that any writer has had more of a lasting legacy than William Shakespeare. For this reason, veteran thespian Kenny Butler argues there is never a bad time to delve into his world of words in a new way.

Welcome to the stage the inaugural Montague Shakespeare Festival, a three-week celebration of Shakespeare’s work founded by Butler. The festival, to be held at the Shea Theater Arts Center from March 18 to April 7, will feature a series of workshops, professional training sessions and a performance of Shakespeare’s play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Butler, a Turners Falls resident who has been involved in theater since the 1990s, said his stage career has involved lots of Shakespeare, including a recent workshop in collaboration with Nia Lynn, a voice and text coach for the Royal Shakespeare Company in England. This workshop inspired conceptualization of a multifaceted Montague Shakespeare Festival, with Butler and Lynn agreeing that something greater could grow from it. Linda Tardif, managing director of the Shea Theater, also saw the vision.

“The Royal Shakespeare Company is one of the most prestigious theater companies in the world,” Tardif said in an event announcement. “We couldn’t be more excited to launch a festival like this right here in Montague.”

Butler touted western Massachusetts as an ideal setting to celebrate the arts, describing its culture as “rugged, beautiful and delicious.” He also referenced this particular town evoking thoughts of “Romeo and Juliet,” as it shares the name “Montague” with one of the story’s families.

Highlighting the festival will be a reimagining of Shakespeare’s iconic play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” with five showings scheduled between March 29 and April 7. Originally, Lynn was going to travel to Montague to direct it, but due to unforeseen circumstances, will not be able to make the trip, Butler explained. Instead, the play will be directed by her colleague Fiona Ross, who is “a renowned practitioner with over two decades of experience at the Royal Shakespeare Company,” according to the festival website.

“Under the skilled direction of Fiona Ross, a renowned practitioner with over two decades of experience at the Royal Shakespeare Company, this production is set to be an immersive experience that will challenge and expand your perception of Shakespeare’s classic play,” the festival website reads. “This production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at the Montague Shakespeare Festival is more than just a play; it’s a bold statement on the universality of human experiences and the enduring power of love and resistance against the forces of tyranny. It invites you to enter a foreign and familiar world where the timeless themes of Shakespeare’s work resonate with our contemporary lives.”

The festival will begin with a series of both in-person and virtual workshops. At the Shea Theater, Fiona Ross will host various workshops on March 20, 22 and 25. One such program is an “educator retreat,” which Butler said is intended to “equip teachers with new ways to analyze Shakespeare.” Registration for this six-hour workshop is $500, but all Montague teachers may receive sponsorship by emailing info@montagueshakespearefestival.com.

There will also be three virtual workshops hosted by Lynn on March 16, March 23 and April 6. Workshops, aside from the educator retreat, cost between $25 and $55 each. Those interested in attending can find more information and register at montagueshakespearefestival.com/events/category/workshops/.

Butler described one of the festival’s main draws as the opportunity “to learn how to speak the text and how to play it.”

“That means once you acquire these skills, you can pick any of these 154 sonnets, pick up the text, and you’ll know how to speak it,” he said of the workshops’ value.

Having such a skillset, Butler said, is as important as it’s ever been.

“All the world’s a stage. Who said that? You already know,” he commented. “The entire world is in Shakespeare, and all of the characters are in us.”

More information on the festival can be found at montagueshakespearefestival.com.