1. William Shakespeare

2. Life and Times • What we know about Shakespeare comes from church documents and legal records. • Some documents that we have are baptismal registration, marriage license, and records of real estate transactions.

3. Family • Shakespeare was the 3rd of eight children • Shakespeare was born April 23, 1564. • Shakespeare was born in Stratford • Shakespeare’s dad was a shoemaker and sometimes served as a justice of the peace • Shakespeare died April 23, 1616.

4. Shakespeare’s Life • Shakespeare was an actor • By 1594, he was a charter member of the theatrical company called Lord Chamberlains Men, which later become The Kings Men. • The Kings Men were supported by King James

5. Romeo and Juliet • Romeo and Juliet was among the early plays of Shakespeare • This play was written between 1594 and 1596 • By 1612 Shakespeare had written thirty-seven (37) plays.

6. Other Plays • Julius Caesar • Hamlet • Othello • King Lear • Macbeth • Midsummers Night’s Dream • Henry V

7. Death • Shakespeare died April 23, 1616 (52 years later on his birthday) • He is buried under the old stone floor of Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. • The following is carved on his tombstone. “Good friend, for Jesus sake forbear To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones And cursed be he that moves my bones”

8. Shakespeares Theater • James Burbage built the first permanent theater in England. • Acting companies played where they could find a spot. • Usually this would be in the courtyards of inns • Shakespeare built the GLOBE Theater

9. Theater continued • In his play Henry V Shakespeare calls his theater the Wooden O • Groundlings – people who stood around the stage for the price of a penny

10. Acting • Acting was not considered a respectable profession by the English Puritans • All women’s parts were played by boys • Women did not enter the theater until much later. • Juliet would have been played by a boy.