Author Archives: Sylvia Morris

Richard III: an update on the King in the car park

Last week’s revelations about the discovery of Richard III’s skeleton in a car park in Leicester has sparked off a flurry of articles about the real and fictitious monarch. Here are links to just a few of them. First of all, … Continue reading

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Timbuktu and Shakespeare for National Libraries Day

At last a news item in which Librarians are the heroes of the day, and in the same week as National Libraries Day too! The city of Timbuktu in Mali is of significance for the whole continent of Africa. Official … Continue reading

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Acting companies and the ensemble

A couple of weeks ago Gregory Doran, the new Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, was “In conversation” with Michael Dobson, the head of the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon. The session was recorded on video and is now generously … Continue reading

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Richard III is found!

This morning Richard Buckley, head archaeologist at Leicester University, has stated that “beyond reasonable doubt”, they have reached the “sound academic conclusion” that they have found “Richard III, the last Plantagenet King of England”. Richard’s death at the Battle of … Continue reading

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Shakespeare and Ovid’s Metamorphoses

In 1598 the writer Francis Meres wrote that “the witty soul of Ovid lives in mellifluous and honey-tongued Shakespeare”. And well he might: Shakespeare had already written his own version of one of Ovid’s tales, as well as borrowing stories … Continue reading

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Touring performances in Shakespeare’s town

It’s refreshing to be made to rethink something you have always accepted as fact, and J R Mulryne’s The Guild and Guild Buildings of Shakespeare’s Stratford challenges some of the received wisdom about these ancient buildings. This is true throughout … Continue reading

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Getting inventive in Shakespeare’s England

BBC 2 is currently screening a season, Genius of Invention, accompanied by a listing of 50 Great British Inventions. But although these include the obvious (steam and jet engine) and the quirky (soda water, baby buggy), not one of these … Continue reading

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Shakespeare’s school: new discoveries

This is the second post I’m writing about the new book, J R Mulryne’s The Guild and Guild Buildings of Shakespeare’s Stratford: Society, Religion, School and Stage, published by Ashgate. The first can be found here. The fame of this … Continue reading

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Announcing the future of the RSC: David Tennant, Hilary Mantel and costume

Wednesday morning was an important one for Shakespeare-lovers, with the new team at the RSC, Artistic Director Gregory Doran, Deputy Artistic Director Erica Whyman and Executive Director Catherine Mallyon setting out their plans. There’s a link to the main announcement here … Continue reading

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Stratford’s Guild: the background to Shakespeare’s town

Any guide to the town of Stratford-upon-Avon will mention the buildings of the Guild of the Holy Cross and their association with William Shakespeare and his family. For it was here Shakespeare almost certainly received his education and here he probably … Continue reading

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