Author Archives: Sylvia Morris

Jane Austen and Shakespeare “blotting their papers”

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

It’s been an exciting few days for anyone interested in manuscript versions of literary works. At Sotheby’s on 14 July a large number of magnificent manuscripts written by some of the most famous names of English literature was auctioned. Items … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare and the French

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

Today has been Bastille Day, and a day for thinking about Shakespeare in France. Shakespeare’s Globe has been running a competition on Twitter regarding which of his plays Shakespeare set in France. The question isn’t as simple as it appears. … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare’s Avon, Act 6: Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre sits right on the bank of the River Avon in Stratford. When the idea of a permanent memorial to Shakespeare in his town was first suggested in the aftermath of the 1864 Tercentenary Celebrations, it was … Continue reading →

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The News of the World and Shakespeare’s Venice #NOTW

Posted on July 9, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

On the evening the News of the World’s closure was announced, I went to Rupert Goold’s RSC production of The Merchant of Venice. During the interval a friend and I wondered which of Shakespeare’s plays was most relevant to the … Continue reading →

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Blackadder and Shakespeare

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

My all-time favourite TV comedies are the 1980s Blackadder series, best of all the second in which the unpleasant and incompetent Edmund morphed into the clever but surrounded-by-idiots Edmund, dazzlingly glamorous in ruff and thigh-length boots, set in the Elizabethan … Continue reading →

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Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor: Shakespeare’s Lost Years

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

This week’s Start the Week on BBC Radio 4, broadcast on 4 July, asked how much we need to know about writers’ lives in order to fully appreciate their works. Contributors included a specialist on the medieval poet Dante and … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare and honour in All’s Well That Ends Well

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

  All’s Well That Ends Well  has recently been described as “one of Shakespeare’s least loved and least performed comedies” (Daily Telegraph) but with current productions at both the Globe Theatre in London and in New York’s Central Park as … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare’s Avon, Act 5: was Shakespeare an angler?

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

The River Avon is the centre of attention for visitors to Stratford this weekend, with the Stratford River Festival  entertaining people with lots of  events on and by the water. It probably won’t be the best weekend though for those wanting … Continue reading →

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Kevin Spacey as Richard III, the “cunning, conniving, charismatic king”

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

One of this summer’s hottest theatre tickets will be Kevin Spacey’s performance as Shakespeare’s most famous villain Richard III, currently previewing at the Old Vic in London.  In a Radio interview with Spacey and his director, Sam Mendes it’s clear … Continue reading →

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Unearthing Shakespeare: Good friend for Jesus sake forbear

Posted on June 26, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

Why is there such fascination with the idea of exhuming Shakespeare? People who want to do so always claim they will find something exciting out by doing so. The current crop of hopefuls, as recorded by the Stratford Herald, BBC … Continue reading →

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