William Shakespeare. 1564-1616

2.

The English people
called Shakespeare
“Our National bard”,
“The Poet of Nature”
and “The Great
Unknown”.

William Shakespeare was born at Stratford-on Avon on the 23rd of
April 1564. His father, John Shakespeare, was a farmer’s son, who
came to Stratford in 1551 and became a prosperous tradesman.
His mother, Mary Arden was a farmer’s daughter. John and Mary
had eight children, four girls and four boys.
The third child was William.

4.

At the age of 18, Shakespeare married the
26-year-old Anne Hathaway . They had
three children: Susanna and twins, son
Hamnet and daughter Judith

5.

A few years later after his marriage, about the
year 1587, Shakespeare left his native town
for London.
Soon he had gained a reputation for both acting
and writing

6.

In spite of prosperity he must have left lonely
among the people surrounding him. In 1612 he
returned to Stratford-on Avon for good.
The last years of his life Shakespeare spent in
Stratford. He died on the 23rd April 1616.

7.

In 1594 Shakespeare became a member of the Lord
Chamberlain’s company of actors.
When the company built the “Globe” theatre most of
his greatest plays were performed there. His
career as a dramatist lasted for nearly 21 years.

8.

The Globe
The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London built in 1599 by Shakespeare’s playing
company, and was DESTROYED by fire on 29 June 1613. A second Globe
Theatre was built on the same site by June 1614 and closed in 1642.
In 1949 an American actor and film director Sam Wanamaker came to London looking
for the site of the Globe Theatre. He didn’t find any so in 1970 he established
Globe Playhouse Trust with the aim of rising funds to BUILD the Globe. And in
1997 Her Majesty the Queen opened the International Shakespeare Globe Centre.
The Globe’s actual dimensions are KNOWN but it was a three-storey, open-air
amphitheatre approximately 30 m in diameter that could house up to 3,000
spectators
DESTROY
BUILD
KNOW
PERFORM
At the base of the stage, there was an area called the pit, where, for a penny, people
would stand on the earthen floor to watch the PERFORMANCE. Around the yard PERFORM
were three levels of stadium-style seats, which were more expensive than standing
room.
MUSIC
A rectangle stage platform, also known as an ‘apron stage’ thrust out into the middle
of the open-air yard. On this stage, there was a trap door for use by
PERFORMING.
Large columns on either site of the stage supported a roof over the stage. The ceiling
under this roof was called the ‘heavens’, and was painted with clouds and the sky.
The balcony housed the MUSICIANS and could also be used for scenes, such as
the balcony scene in “Romeo and Juliet”.

William Shakespeare. 1564-1616

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