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SHAKESPEARE IN CONTEXT
(Each picture is a link to a topic)

Thumbnail: picture of Shakespeare. Use as a link to the 'Shakespeare's Life' page

SHAKESPEARE'S LIFE
William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, the eldest son of a prosperous tradesman, John Shakespeare, and his wife Mary. It is likely that ...
Includes a speech from 'As You Like It' about life, and a portrait of Shakespeare.

Thumbnail: picture of Shakespeare. Use as a link to the 'Shakespeare's Plays' page

SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS
Over a period of 25 years, Shakespeare is thought to have written 39 plays (either by himself or in collaboration with other playwrights) that can be divided into three ...

Thumbnail: picture of Shakespeare. Use as a link to the 'Theatres in Shakespeare's time' page

ELIZABETHAN THEATRES
If you had visited London's Globe Theatre at the start of the 17th century, you would have seen plays performed there by Shakespeare's theatrical ...
Includes illustrations of a typical theatre and a typical stage.

Thumbnail: picture of Shakespeare. Use as a link to the 'Acting in Shakespeare's theatre' page

ACTORS & ACTING
The major roles in a new play were given to senior actors, with other parts shared between the members of the company. Each actor learned his lines ...
Includes a speech from 'Hamlet' about the art of acting.

Thumbnail: picture of Shakespeare. Use as a link to the 'Props and scenery in Shakespeare's theatre' page

PROPS & SCENERY
Large pieces of scenery were not used in the theatres of Shakespeare's time, where the stage projected right out into the middle of the audience. Scenery ...
Includes a speech from 'Macbeth' showing props being put to good use.

Thumbnail: picture of Shakespeare. Use as a link to the 'Music in Shakespeare's theatre' page

THEATRICAL MUSIC
Nearly all of Shakespeare's scripts specify incidental music and songs to create an appropriate atmosphere. Trumpets and drums would be required during ...

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© 2008 Mark Brierley