Long before he became the most famous playwright in English history, from the 1560s a young William Shakespeare had ample opportunity to witness professional theatre performed within his hometown.
Although often thought of as a London-based industry centred upon famous theatres like the Globe, Elizabethan Stratford was a popular destination for actors on tour outside the capital, with the town’s Guildhall effectively serving as the local playhouse. Yet these performances did not always run smoothly, with local debates over the appropriateness of such activity in the town ultimately leading to the gradual suppression of theatre in Stratford in the early 1600s.
Join Dr. Will Green – Fellow of the School of Advanced Study, University of London and Research Associate at Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall, Stratford-upon-Avon – as he shares findings from his ongoing public history project on early modern regional theatre. In this first talk, Dr. Green will investigate the forgotten theatrical heritage of Stratford-upon-Avon’s Guildhall, uncovering how these touring players transformed the building into a captivating local playhouse.
Discover the hidden histories of power, patronage, and plague that brought professional drama to Shakespeare’s Stratford, igniting the young writer’s imagination and setting him on the road to creating his early masterpieces.
This online talk is delivered in collaboration with Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall, the museum of the Grade I listed guildhall of Stratford-upon-Avon. The talk will be recorded, and everyone who buys a ticket will be sent a link to the video within 10 days of the event date. This ensures ticket buyers can view the talk even if they are unable to attend at the time of the live stream.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1991398732215?aff=oddtdtcreator
The talk itself will last 45 minutes to 1 hour, after which there will be ample time allowed for Q&A.