William “Will the Thrill”

Shakespeare

What do we know?

• He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Northwest of London.

• No official record of his birth.• The first documentation is of his baptism on

April 26, 1564.– Observed birthday, April 23, 1564.– Death- April 23, 1616

MORE “WILLIE SHAKES”• Marriage certificate at age 18 on Nov. 27, 1582• He married • Anne Hathaway, an older woman.

• They had three children:– Susanna- b. May 26, 1583– Hamnet and Judeth (twins)- b. Feb 2, 1585

• He helped finance the building of the Globe Theatre in 1599.

BILL, THE WRITER

• Shakespeare wrote:– 37 plays, 4 types/genres• Comedies• Tragedies• Histories- (about the kings of England)• Romances- (fantasy/supernatural)

THE GLOBE THEATRE• After their lease at “The Theatre”, Shakespeare’s acting company, The King’s Men, moved across the river and built the Globe Theatre in 1598.• In addition to being a

theatre, it was also rumored to be a brothel and a gambling hall.

Performances took place during the day because they didn’t have a way to safely light the theatre. In fact, fires in theatres were very common at the time.

Night scenes would have actors carrying torches or lanterns in the broad daylight, pretending it was night.

A GENTELEMAN’S CLUB• Women were not allowed on stage. In fact, it

was against the law! So all female roles were played by young boys or men.

ONE MO’ TIME!

• In 1613, on June 29 a fire broke out in the theatre when a cannon used for special effects caught fire to the thatched roof.

• The theatre burned to the ground. • It was rebuilt in 1614.

THEN CAME THE PURITANS

• In 1642, under the force of the Puritans, the English Parliament issued an ordinance suppressing all stage plays in the theatres.

• In 1644 the Globe Theatre was demolished by the Puritans.

• In 1647 Even stricter rules were passed regarding stage plays and theatres.

• This culminated in 1648 when all playhouses were ordered to be pulled down. All players were to be seized and whipped, and anyone caught attending a play to be fined five shillings.