Author Archives: Sylvia Morris

All’s Well That Ends Well at the RSC

High summer in Stratford-upon-Avon and at the RST the season is in full swing. Three Shakespeare productions are running in the main theatre, and on Thursday it was possible to see two plays back to back. In the afternoon there … Continue reading

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Art Everywhere: Shakespeare’s Ophelia

For the next ten days, until 25 August, copies of 57 British works of art will be displayed in thousands of locations in the UK: at bus stops, billboards and shopping centres. It’s billed as the world’s largest art show. … Continue reading

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Shakespeare’s mulberries: trees of history and legend

Last Sunday, 4 August 2013, one of Stratford’s mulberry trees split in two. There are many ancient mulberries in the town, principally in the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s gardens, and they’re mostly propped up by metal or brick supports, making them look … Continue reading

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The end of chivalry: John Talbot, the terror of the French

According to the messenger who gives the news in the first scene of Henry VI Part 1, Lord Talbot was captured by the French during a battle that took place on 10 August. The tenth of August last this dreadful … Continue reading

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Stratford’s heritage of food and drink

Ever since the town of Stratford-upon-Avon was granted the right to hold a weekly market in 1196 it has thrived on trade. The goods bought and sold were the agricultural produce of the area, still remembered in some of the … Continue reading

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Shakespeare and the ladies

  From the earliest of times, Shakespeare’s works have been specially admired by women. I wrote a couple of weeks ago about the “Sociable Letter” written by Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle and published in 1664. Margaret defended Shakespeare against … Continue reading

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Shakespeare and The White Queen: using creative license

The current television series The White Queen has been criticised for its historical inaccuracies, its glossy costumes and out-of-period settings. I haven’t read the books by Philippa Gregory, so can’t tell how much of this relates to them and how … Continue reading

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Juliet’s birthday: Shakespeare and Lammas-tide

Lammas Day, 1 August, was an important day in the calendar, but for Shakespeare-lovers Lammas Eve, 31 July, is the more significant because it was the day of Juliet’s birth. Juliet is one of the few Shakespearean characters whose age and … Continue reading

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Summertime Shakespeare projects

It’s only a month since I wrote a round-up covering some of the new developments and forthcoming events, but, well, it’s been a busy month. First off, and probably the publication that’s got the most attention, is the new book … Continue reading

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Digital Shakespeare: asking questions about the future

Earlier this week I attended a day of discussions at the University of Nottingham on  Digital Shakespeare, with the subtitle authorship and authority. One of a series of workshops, practitioners and academics were there to share ideas and discuss the … Continue reading

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