Who is Shakespeare? “The Bard” Hometown: Stratford-Upon-Avon Date of Baptism: April 26, 1564 Date of Birth: Maybe April 23rd Birthplace: Located on Henley Street and is now open for business “The Bard” Shakespeare was baptized in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 26, 1564 – it is believed, however, that he was born around April 23rd. Born into a Merchant Family (he was not in the upper classes) The house that he was supposedly born in stands on Henley Street and, though it has had many modifications, people can visit it today!

Shakespeare’s Family Married Anne Hathaway (26) at age 18 First child (daughter) 3 months later...Wait...What? Three children– including twins Judith and Hamnet. Shakespeare leaves and goes to London. Married at 18 years of age to Anne Hathaway (not the actress) who was 26 years of age. Their first daughter was born only 3 months later. However, this was not as scandalous at that time as it is now. They had 3children - including twins Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet died at age 11. He then went to London and became an actor and playwright and was not at home with his family after the birth of the twins.

Shakespeare’s Career Lord Chamberlain’s Men (King’s Men) Lack of education... Queen Elizabeth I 44 plays written between 1590 and 1614. Date of Death: April 23rd (his birthday), 1616 Shakespeare wrote plays while he was acting with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (later the King’s Men once King James I became King of England). He was not liked by everyone – especially since he was not as educated as other men at the time. He didn’t go to university..... His plays were quite successful and even Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed them. He wrote approximately 44 plays between 1590 and 1614. He died April 23, his supposed birthday, in 1616 – Cause of death is unknown. First Folio: Printed 7 years after his death Published by fellow actors, and friends, John Heminge and Henry Condell

Does It Really Matter? Did He Really Exist? Anti-Stratfordians Queen Elizabeth the I, Francis Bacon, Marlowe (among others) Gaps in Biography, Penmanship/Illiterate family In the end, however, most scholars do not dispute the existence of Shakespeare and his authorship. Does It Really Matter?

Theatre In the outskirts of London along with: dog- fighting, bear/bull baiting, and prostitution Performances: Open-air, daytime, and good weather Trapdoors/Heavens, lack of scenery, costumes Pit/Groundlings for the poor and 3 tiered seating for the wealthy Most theatres were on the the outskirts of London (Southwark) due to the less restrictions – opposition from the Church and Government Puritans thought it spurred immorality and the Government didn’t always like what was being said politically in the plays – required to have a gov’t official read the scripts and take out anything offensive They were performed in the daytime for the natural light and relied on good weather there were trapdoors (Hell) in the floors and “Heavens” in the ceiling They did not use a lot of scenery and the costumes were the big thing (also used to disguise the gender) The lower classes stood in the pit for the shows, aka groundlings – cheaper, interaction with the actors The wealthy got to sit and were covered from the elements NOTE: “SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND DIVIDED ITSELF INTO 2 SOCIAL CLASSES...THE ARISTOCRATS/NOBLES AND...EVERYONE ELSE” They could hold approximately 2000-3000 people

The Globe Theatre - 1599 Opened in 1599 Fire! Fire! – June 29, 1613 Special effects disaster! 1642 (to1658): All theatres are hereby closed. Anyone that participates in such activities will be seized and whipped. 1644: The Globe is pulled down 1997: Shakespeare’s Globe, a replica, is finished. The Amphitheatre design allowed for the best sound  The Globe was only in use until 1613, when on June 29 a fire broke out at the Globe Theatre .  The canon used for special effects, such as heralding great entrances, was loaded with gunpowder and wadding. The thatched roof caught on fire and the Globe Theatre burned to the ground.   According to one of the few surviving documents of the event, no one was hurt except a man whose burning breeches were put out with a bottle of ale. In 1614 the Globe Theatre was rebuilt (referred to as Globe 2).  In 1642 all theatres were shut down and not reopened until 1660 – during this period, things got very severe and most theatres were torn down. In 1644 the Globe was torn down in order to build apartaments. It was remade in 1997 (a 30+ year process) – it is approximately 750 feet from the original site.