“There was a star danced, and under that was I born.” Much Ado About Nothing: Act 2, Scene 1

Here at Agecroft Hall we look forward every year to a day of festivities honoring the world’s greatest poet and playwright. Today we will look at Shakespeare’s life through the lens of the era that defined him. What we hope to do today is to conjure the atmosphere of Tudor England during Shakespeare’s lifetime and to breathe life into him by presenting him as man, husband, father, businessman and actor. In short, we are presenting our own “play” for you and letting Shakespeare sit back and enjoy the show!

FAST FACTS!!!!

Here are some quick facts about Shakespeare and his life that you may or may not be familiar with. This list will set a quick reference timeline that you can refer to throughout the event, helping us “set the stage” for our later acts (posts)!

Born: April 23, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire

Died: April 23, 1616, in Stratford

Parents: John Shakespeare and Elizabeth Arden

Siblings: 2 older sisters (died in infancy); 2 younger sisters and 3 younger brothers

Married: Anne Hathaway on November 27, 1582

Children: Susanna and twins Hamnet and Judith

Career: Begins in London by 1592

Body of Work: 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and 5 long narrative poems

Buried: Holy Trinity Church, Stratford

Here are some events that occurred in England during Shakespeare’s lifetime that would have influenced his life, his writing, and his theatre.

1557-1580 Francis Drake sailed around the world.

1588 Defeat of the Spanish Armada by England

1592-93 The Black Plague in England

1603 Death of Queen Elizabeth I

1603 The Black Plague in England - again

Source: Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors, Teachers’ Resource Pack