William Shakespeare

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.

Shakespeare was the 3 rd of eight children Shakespeare was born April 23, Shakespeare was born in Stratford Shakespeare’s dad was a shoemaker and sometimes served as a justice of the peace Shakespeare died April 23, 1616.

Shakespeare was an actor By 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 was among the early plays of Shakespeare This play was written between 1594 and 1596 By 1612 Shakespeare had written thirty-seven (37) plays.

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”

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

Bear-baiting was popular in England until the nineteenth century. Many herds of bears were maintained for baiting. In its best-known form, arenas for this purpose were called bear-gardens, consisting of a circular high fenced area, the “pit", and raised seating for spectators. A post would be set in the ground towards the edge of the pit and the bear chained to it, either by the leg or neck. A number of well-trained hunting dogs would then be set on it, being replaced as they tired or were wounded or killed. In some cases the bear was let loose, allowing it to chase after animals or people. For a long time, the main bear-garden in London was the Paris Garden at Southwark.

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 was not considered a respectable profession by the English Puritans All women’s parts were played by boys Women did not enter the theater until much later. Juliet would have been played by a boy.

Julius Caesar Hamlet Othello King Lear Macbeth Midsummers Night’s Dream Henry V

William Shakespeare (baptized 26 April 1564; died 23 April 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".

His surviving works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.