Tag Archives: Shakespeare

What next for the Royal Shakespeare Company?

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

A few days away from mobile phones, TV and radio combined with the aftermath of a cold have played havoc with posts to my blog. Now back on track, I find that not only has Michael Boyd announced that he … Continue reading →

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Stratford-upon-Avon in autumn

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

Autumn is really on its way now, and although it’s a beautiful time of year there’s always a feeling of sadness because summer’s past and the cold harsh days of winter are on the way.  Shakespeare’s most often-quoted passage about … Continue reading →

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Very like a whale: Adventures in the far North, Part 2

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

In Part 1 I looked at some of Shakespeare’s references to whales, and the history of whaling in Spitsbergen. This time I’m looking at the stories of adventurers who headed north.  The very first English trading company was established by … Continue reading →

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Stratford-upon-Avon’s Mop Fair

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

For a few days every October the residents of Stratford-upon-Avon have the history of the town brought home to them. The centre of the town literally comes to a standstill, all the cars, buses and lorries that pound the streets … Continue reading →

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Very like a whale: Adventures in the far North, Part 1

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

Most people are familiar with the phrase “very like a whale”, used nowadays to indicate a mocking disbelief. It is, of course, Shakespeare, from the scene in which Hamlet, in his antic disposition, taunts the “tedious old fool” Polonius by … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare and National Poetry Day

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

Thursday 6 October is National Poetry Day in the UK. With so much economic gloom in the news, and to mark the day, here are a couple of pieces of Shakespeare’s most beautiful poetry.  The first one comes from near … Continue reading →

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Seeing the spider

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

Autumn’s coming round, and that means we are all seeing more spiders in homes, gardens and in the countryside. Spiders have always got a bad press. In folklore they’re associated with evil, malevolence, and rumoured to be venomous.  Spiders don’t … Continue reading →

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Shakespearian stars 3: John Gielgud as Hamlet

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

If asked to name the greatest Hamlet of the mid-twentieth century most people would suggest Laurence Olivier. It was, though John Gielgud who received more critical acclaim and who, for people alive at the time, was most closely associated with … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare and Doctor Who

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

    Doctor Who is a quintessentially English, science fiction TV programme which was first screened in 1963. To date eleven actors have played the part of the eccentric time-traveller.  A few weeks ago there was a jokey suggestion in … Continue reading →

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Ralph Fiennes and Coriolanus on film

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

In the UK we’re in party conference season, where the political parties have their annual meetings: there’s much jostling for position while leaders try to reaffirm their dominance. And in the USA, although there’s over a year to go until … Continue reading →

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