William Shakespeare

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Life and Times

What we know about Shakespeare comes from church documents and legal records.

– Some documents that we have are baptismal registration, marriage license, and records of real estate transactions.

Family

Shakespeare was the 3rd of eight children

Shakespeare was born April 23, 1564.Shakespeare was born in StratfordShakespeare’s dad was a shoemaker and

sometimes served as a justice of the peace

Shakespeare died April 23, 1616.

Shakespeare’s Life

Shakespeare was an actorBy 1594, he was a charter member of the

theatrical company called Lord Chamberlains Men, which later become The Kings Men.

The Kings Men were supported by King James

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet was among the early plays of Shakespeare

This play was written between 1594 and 1596

By 1612 Shakespeare had written thirty-seven (37) plays.

Other Plays

Julius CaesarHamletOthelloKing LearMacbethMidsummers Night’s DreamHenry V

Death

Shakespeare died April 23, 1616 (52 years later on his birthday)

He is buried under the old stone floor of Holy Trinity Church in Stratford.

The following is carved on his tombstone.“Good friend, for Jesus sake forbear To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones And cursed be he that moves my bones”

Shakespeares Theater

James Burbage built the first permanent theater in England.

Acting companies played where they could find a spot.

Usually this would be in the courtyards of inns

Shakespeare built the GLOBE Theater

Theater continued

In his play Henry V Shakespeare calls his theater the Wooden O

Groundlings – people who stood around the stage for the price of a penny

Acting

Acting was not considered a respectable profession by the English Puritans

All women’s parts were played by boysWomen did not enter the theater until

much later.Juliet would have been played by a boy.