Tag Archives: King John

Shakespeare’s world in maps

For the next four months the subject of the UK’s relationship with Europe will be at the forefront of our minds. Shortly after the Prime Minister announced that an agreement had been reached for reform to the EU, the Folger … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Legacy, Shakespeare's World | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Last call for Magna Carta at the British Library

2015 has been the eight-hundredth anniversary of the great document Magna Carta, one of the world’s most famous documents, which is still controversial. Is it, as the British Library’s website asks, the “foundation of democracy or rallying cry for modern … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Legacy, Sources | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Last call for Magna Carta at the British Library

Shakespeare, King John and Magna Carta in 2015

Listening to Melvyn Bragg’s series on Radio 4 celebrating the history of Magna Carta, 800 this year, I realise how little I know about the document and the historical background to Shakespeare’s play King John. By the end of 2015 … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Legacy, Plays and Poems | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare, King John and Magna Carta in 2015

Old December’s bareness everywhere

It’s December and winter is definitely on the way. Heavy snow has already been causing chaos in the USA, and in the UK we are bracing ourselves for violent storms.  In Stratford the ways are certainly foul with mud and … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Legacy, Shakespeare's World | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Old December’s bareness everywhere

Cheek by Jowl and Shakespeare’s Globe in the news

Two theatre companies which have made their mark by performing Shakespeare have recently made announcements about future programming and projects. First, Cheek by Jowl. Since they were formed in 1981 by Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod the company has done … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Legacy, Shakespeare on Stage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Cheek by Jowl and Shakespeare’s Globe in the news

Shakespeare’s mothers and sons

For Shakespeare’s towards the end of his life, early September must have been a sad time, not just because it signalled the end of summer. Both parents died at this time of year: his father was buried on 8 September 1601, and … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Legacy, Shakespeare on Stage, Shakespeare's World | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare’s mothers and sons

Children at war

Lyse Doucet’s recent BBC2 documentary, Children of Syria made gruelling viewing. She had spent six months following several displaced children in Syria. The children spoke with dignity and maturity beyond their years: all were aware that their childhoods have been … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Legacy | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Share
Posted in Legacy, Shakespeare on Stage, Stratford-upon-Avon | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Touring performances in Shakespeare’s town

The Thames Jubilee Pageant: the royal throne of kings

The Jubilee weekend’s most spectacular event, the Thames pageant, was a bit of a victim of the English weather. The brand new Shard, the tallest building in Europe, disappeared into the mist as the weather worsened. Apparently nowhere in the UK … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Legacy, Plays and Poems | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Facts, fiction and Shakespeare’s view of history

It’s always claimed that Shakespeare must have been fascinated by British history because he wrote so many plays about it. I make the play count thirteen. But was this fascination with the history itself, or did he see it as … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Legacy, Plays and Poems, Shakespeare's World | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments