Anger at Anonymous..

Yesterday saw William Shakespeare's name being removed from sign all around Warwickshire, the county of Startford-upon-Avon. One might think this a work done by vandals, or perhaps even vehement Marlowe fans, but it was in fact an act carried out by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust as a campaign against new film 'Anonymous'. Premiering yesterday, and starring Rafe Spall, Rhys Ifans and Vanessa Redgrave, the film is just the newest medium by which people are seeking to put forward the argument that the man we know as Shakespeare was merely a 'barely literate frontman for the Earl of Oxford'.

Thus, in a backlash against this attempt to 'rewrite English culture and history', the Trust has put in place a campaign by which 9 road signs and 10 pub signs are being taped over, as well as a sheet being placed over a memorial in Stratford-upon-Avon itself. The trust said, 'Today's activity barely scratches the surface, but we hope it will remind people of the enormous legacy we owe to William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon'. The film 'Anonymous' is in cinemas from October 28th.

The Collaborator...

On this day...English playwright John Fletcher was baptised in 1579. The son of a cleric, who later became chaplain to Queen Elizabeth, Fletcher was a child prodigy and entered Cambridge University at the age of 11. Despite this start, little is known of Fletcher throughout his education until he reappeared as a writer for the Children of the Queen's Revels, and a performer at Blackfriars Theatre.

Fletcher's best known works are as a collaborator, especially with Francis Beaumont, such as 'The Maid's Tragedy' and 'Philaster'. So close was their relationship, that they were purported to live in the same house, share each other's clothes and even had 'one wench in the house between them'. Their partnership ended with Beaumont's marriage in 1613, and Fletcher's illness in the same year. Subsequently he became a more firm fixture with the King's Men, collaborating with Shakespeare on 'Henry VIII' and 'The Two Noble Kinsmen'. Fletcher continued to write for the company as a solo playwright after Shakespeare's death, returning to collaboration shortly before his own. One of the most important dramatists of the era, Fletcher died in 1625, at the age of 45.

King Lear opens...

A new production of Shakespeare's 'King Lear' is opening in the West End. Starring Derek Jacobi, it is the tale of an ageing king, who, after a contest of superficial love, divides his kingdom between two of his daughters with tragic consequences. Alongside Jacobi is Shakespeare debutant Gina McKee, who in an interview this week, has admitted she is 'nervous' about playing elder daughter Goneril. The production opens at the Donmar Warehouse on December 3rd, and runs until February 5th.

On this day...

Two of William Shakespeare's best loved plays had their first recorded performance - 'Othello' in 1604, and 'The Tempest' in 1611. Both were performed at Whitehall Palace, and although it is conceivable that this was not the plays' debut performance, it is certainly the first that was documented.

'Othello' was noted as, 'A Play in the Banketinge house at Whit Hall Called The Moor of Venis' and was attributed to 'Shaxberd'. 'The Tempest' was similarly performed in front of King James I on Hallowmas night, and was later included as one of the eight plays acted at court in celebration of the marriage of Princess Elizabeth.

On this day...

The army of Henry V defeated the French at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The event was to become the inspiration for Shakespeare's play written over 180 years later, and formed the last part of the historical tetralogy which included 'Richard II', 'Henry IV part 1', and 'Henry IV part 2'. A play renowned for its patriotic themes, a Laurence Olivier adaptation led to a resurgance in its popularity during World War Two. Arguably the most famous lines in the play are delivered on 25th October, in Henry V's pre-battle rallying cry - the St. Crispin's Day Speech:

And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,

From this day to the ending of the world,

But we in it shall be remembered-

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

For he to-day that sheds his blood with me

Shall be my brother

On this day...

Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes was born in 1547. Little is known about Cervantes early life, bar baptism records, and the first glimpse we get of him is as a 22 year-old soldier in the Spanish navy. Hvaing been shot with three bullets in battles against the Turks, he was captured by Barbary pirates, ransomed after 5 years in captivity. Back in Spain, Cervantes married a girl 18 years his junior and worked sporadically, first as a purchasing agent for the Armada, and later as a tax collector. It wasn't long before Cervantes was again incarcerated, this time for irregularities in his accounts.

The adventure of his life was such, that any autobiographical work would have become an instant hit, but as it was, Cervantes turned his hand to ficiton, writing over 20 plays, and publishing his first major work 'La Galatea'. Yet his masterpiece, and, many argue, the first modern novel, is picaresque writing 'Don Quixote', called by Dostoevsky, 'the ultimate and most sublime work of human thinking'.

Yet Cervantes has interesting parallels with a writer closer to home. It seems that Shakespeare was influenced by Cervantes' work, so much so, that the Spanish author has even entered the Shakespeare authorship question, with some believing they were the same person, others believing that Francis Bacon wrote both. To complete the link, they both died on the same day, April 23rd 1616, leading UNESCO to designate it the International Day of the Book.

On this day...

Robert Greene's 'A Groats-Worth of Wit bought with a Million of Repentance' was published in 1592. Although he had died three weeks prior, the pamphlet was to become Greene's best known work, mainly for its references to a young William Shakespeare. Quoting lines from 'Henry VI, part 3', Greene wrote; '"...for there is an upstart Crow, beautified with our feathers, that with his Tygers hart wrapt in a Players hyde, supposes he is as well able to bombast out a blanke verse as the best of you: and being an absolute Johannes fac totum, is in his owne conceit the onely Shake-scene in a countrey'.

Greene's 'groat', equivalent in the day to a fourpenny coin, appeared to be that Shakespeare was a plagiarist, but many commentators believe that it was merely a written expression of jealously. So extravagant was Greene's outburst, that it has even been speculated, by critics such as Stephen Greenblatt, that he may have been the model for Shakespeare's jovial Falstaff. 

Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows...

The image of slighted Duke Prospero conjuring a storm on the shores of the island, is one of Shakespeare's most memorable. Yet what if it was not Prospero, but Prospera? Dame Helen Mirren is set to turn the tables by starring as a female version of the protagonist in a new film adaptation of 'The Tempest'.

The idea for the change was instigated by Mirren herself. She says, 'All the relationships shift because she is female. There's the maternal relationship with her daughter - rather than a patriarchal one. She is a lot more vulnerable herself because she understands Miranda's emotional life and need for romance...I am actually convinced that were he [Shakespeare] writing in the modern day, he would have made Prospero into a woman'. Also starring Russell Brand and Alfred Molina, the film was shot on a Hawaiian island, and is set to be released in December.

Summer stories...

Despite children and adults alike swanning off to far flung places in search of a bit of relaxation, the literary world took no such break. Here are just a few of the headlines from the last couple of months...

• Raymond Scott, the flamboyant antiques dealer accused of stealing a rare couple of Shakespeare's 'First Folio', has been cleared
• Science fiction author Ray Bradbury has reached his 90th birthday
• Chris Wormell's 'One Small Fish', a children's book on evolution, has won the Booktrust Early Years Award
• Following in the footsteps of fellow New Labour founder Peter Mandelson, Tony Blair has released his autobiography, 'A Journey', leading to nationwide press coverage and controversy

O villain, thou hast stol'n both mine office and my name...

The man accused of stealing a copy of Shakespeare's First Folio, has been cleared. Eccentric antiques books dealer Raymond Scott, had been charged with taking a copy of the 1623 work from Durham University in 1998, before delivering it to Washington's Folger Library a decade later. He has, however, been convicted of handling stolen goods and removing stolen property from the UK. Following a psychiatric report, it is expected that Scott will face a 'substantial custodial sentence'.

On this day...

The Globe Theatre, home to some of Shakespeare's most famous plays, was burnt down in 1613. Owned by the Chamberlain's Men, of whom Shakespeare comprised one of the six monetary partners, the Globe, or at least its timber had previously existed in another form. For the company, due to a dispute over the lease, had dismantled their previous home, The Theatre in 1598, and ferried it beam by beam across the Thames to its new Southwark home.

However, it was destined not to last, and only 15 years later the building was in flames. During a performance of 'Henry VIII', a technical malfunction caused a cannon  to misfire, its sparks catching the thatched roof and reportedly destroying the building in only an hour. Contemporary reports state that all were unharmed, except for one gentlemen, whose burning breeches were put out by a bottle of ale. Hopefully tonight's performance of the same play in the reconstructed Globe will pass without such incident.  

All that glitters is not gold...

The Shakespeare folio at the centre of a controversial robbery trial has been display for he first time in a decade. The first edition work, dating back to 1623, was handed into Washington's Folger Library by ostentatious book dealer Raymond Scott under the pretext of him having been leant it by some Cuban associates. Suspicious of the 'damaged, bruised and mutilated' folio, the FBI started a investigation, leading to he belief that Scott had stolen the work from the Cosin Library at Durham University. Reportedly in debt to the tune of £90,000 due to a young Cuban waitress, Scott, wearing tradmark £300 Tiffany glasses and a diamond ring, was today in the dock as the folio was examined. The trial is set to continue for another four weeks.

Dear Juliet...

Once again, Hollywood strikes with yet another Shakespearean spin-off. However, this latest entry appears to lack the drama of Luhrmann's 'Romeo + Juliet', or the passion and finesse of 'Shakespeare in Love'. 'Letters to Juliet', although similarly based on one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedy, instead traces the story of an American girl on holiday in Italy, who discovers that thousands of would-be lovers write to 'Juliet, Verona' every year for romantic advice - some even stuffed into the brickwork of the building suppposed to be the location of her and Romeo’s tryst.

Typically answered by the 'secretaries of Juliet', the young American, acted by Amanda Seyfried, finds one such letter, and sets of to find the lovers referenced in it. The film will be released on May 21st, but many are already sceptical about its storyline - after all, says Rowan Pelling, 'it seems to me that writing to Juliet for romantic advice is rather like making Hannibal Lecter your health guru'.

On this day...

'A Pleasant Conceited Historie, called the taming of a Shrew', appears in the Stationer's Register in 1594. Thought to be related to Shakespeare's similarly named play, 'The Taming of The Shrew', scholars have speculated on the relationship between the two, with the former hypothesised to be a reported performance text, a source, or even a draft of Shakespeare's comedy. Thus there remains, as with so many of his plays, much confusion over the date on which it was written, with estimates lying between 1590 and 1594 and it first recorded performance noted, as 'The Tamynge of A Shrowe', in Philip Henslowe's diary as being on June 13th, 1594.

As well as the numerous stage adaptations, the play has since gone on to inspire highly successful productions in other media, including opera, musicals and films, perhaps of which the most notable is 1999 screen hit '10 Things I Hate ABout You'. Yet despite being a popular drama, 'The Taming of The Shrew' is not without its controversies, with accusations of both misogyny and false authorship being levelled.

All the world's a stage...

In accordance with the Bard's birthday, the Globe Theatre sees its 'Kings and Rogues' season opener today. 'Macbeth', featuring among others, the recent star of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' Elliot Cowan, will be performed tonight, before it is joined by 'Henry VIII', 'Henry IV part 1' and 'Henry IV part 2' over the coming weeks. The Globe is world-renowned for its outstanding performances, and tickets for this season can still be purchased here

On this day...

Well, of course, today could not go by without the mention of the great man himself; William Shakespeare was born in 1564. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon to a successful glove merchant, the playwright's actual birthdate is unknown, and is only assumed from his baptism, which tradition usually dictated happened three days after the birth. After marrying a preganant Anne Hathaway at 18, much of Shakespeare's life remains a mystery, until his reappearance on the London theatrical scene in 1592.

His subsequent career is so extensive that to summarise it is not to do it justice, however there are several aspects of his life which are worth mentioning specifically. A contemporary of playwrights such as Marlowe, Kyd and Fletcher, Shakespeare's works were performed by the Lord Chamberlain's Men under the reign of Elizabeth I, later called the Kings Men under James I. Also an author of sonnets, Shakespeare's 36 plays were collated in the 1623 First Folio, and include some of the most famous tragedies, comedies and histories of all time. Indeed, Shakespeare's influence has spread not only throughout the field of literature, but through the English language itself. Here are some of his more recognisable creations.

Shakespeare, who also died on April 23rd, despite questions surrounding authorship, religion, and even appearance, is still undoubtedly one of the greatest ever writers in world literature.

This above all: to thine own self be true...

April 1st will see the release of a new book, sure to rouse literary discussion. James Shapiro's 'Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare?', attempts to answer the century old question as to the 'real' identity of the mysterious bard. Advocates of the 'anti-Stratfordian' theory have included Mark Twain, Sigmund Freud and Charlie Chaplin, yet those whom they believe instead to be the playwright are an even more bizarre collection of people.

Christopher Marlowe, Sir Francis Bacon, Edward De Vere, Sir Walter Raleigh, John Donne, and, in quarters Elizabeth I, are all mentioned as possible writers, yet evidence is tenuous to say the least. Although all options are neatly summarised in Shapiro's latest contribution, perhaps it is best summed up by the name of one of the most prominent anti-Stratfordians - John Thomas Looney.

The play's the thing...

A new Shakespeare  play has been discovered. 'Double Falsehood', thought to be based on long-lost work 'Cardenio', is believed to have been a collaboration between Shakespeare and dramatist John Fletcher. Professor Hammond, editor of the latest Arden collection, says that 'Shakespeare's hand can be discerned in Act One, Act Two and probably the first two scenes in Act Three of the play'. Fletcher is already established as the co-author of two later Shakesspearian plays, 'Henry VIII', and 'The Two Noble Kinsman'. This particular play is thought to have been written in 1612, and performed twice in 1613. Yet this new discovery begs the question, how many more might there be?

On this day...

 












Julius Caesar was famously killed on the Ides of March in 44 B.C on the senate floor. Led by Brutus, a group of conspirators, uneasy with Caesar's supremacy and possible assent to monarchy, devised a plot to kill him. Such powerful political and ancient history is perhaps best captured in the writings of Shakespeare, and his 1599 play, 'Julius Caesar'.  However although the title of the play, Caesar himself only appears in three scenes. Thus the majority of the drama is focused instead on the psychologically turmoils of Marcus Brutus, as he struggles to reconcile his patriotic duty for Rome, with his close friendship with Caesar.

Cited as one of the first of Shakespeare's plays to be staged in the Globe Theatre, 'Julius Caesar' is often thought to reflect the contemporary political events of that time, as monarch Queen Elizabeth I declined to name a successor, leading to fears of a civil war. The drama is perhaps most famous for two of its lines; 'Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears' and, of course, 'Et tu, Brute?'

A pair of star-crossed lovers....

'Romeo and Juliet' is once again set to hit the stage in a radical modern retelling. Set in the 1980s, 'Juliet and Her Romeo' will be shown at the Bristol Old Vic from March 10th to April 24th. Both protagonists will be pensioners, whose love affair is hindered by their children, instead of their parents, due to its imprudent and costly nature. Directed by Tim Morris, who has just finished a stint on West End play 'War Horse', the play stars Sian Phillips as Juliet and Michael Byrne as Romeo. The play, and in particular the role of 76 year-old Phillips, was dicussed in a article on Newsnight yesterday, which can be viewed here