An Introduction to Shakespeare’s Theatre
Part One
Born:
26 April 1564
Died:
23 April 1616
The memorial for Shakespeare in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-Upon-Avon
An Introduction to Shakespeare’s Theatre
Part One
Objectives
In this lesson you are going to
find out about:
• How theatre started
•Ancient Greek Theatre
• Greek actors
• Greek costume & masks
• Theatre layout
You will complete some MiniTasks and a Quiz. You also have
to answer a Question about
Romeo & Juliet in the End of
Semester Exam.
An Introduction to Shakespeare’s Theatre
Starter
Write down three things that you
know about William Shakespeare and
his theatre.
….and to start our introduction we are
going to jump back in time 2½
thousand years to Ancient Greece
around 500 BC.
Part 1 - The Theatre of Ancient Greece
The Theatre At Epidavros Near Athens
The Theatre Festival Near Athens
Theatre as we know it today is thought to have started with festivals
held each summer near Athens in ancient Greece. The festivals in
honour of the God Dionysus, begun around 500 BC and ended around
200 BC with the fall of the Greek empire. The name of the first actor was
Thespis who won the first competition in 532 BC and that is why today
actors are sometimes called Thespians.
Mini Task 1
• When did theatre start?
• Where did it start?
• Why were festivals held?
• When Did they stop?
• Why did they stop?
• Who was the first actor?
• Why is he remembered?
The Theatre Festival Near Athens
Theatre as we know it today is thought to have started with festivals
held each summer near Athens in ancient Greece. The festivals in
honour of the God Dionysus, begun around 500 BC and ended around
200 BC with the fall of the Greek empire. The name of the first actor was
Thespis who won the first competition in 532 BC and that is why today
actors are sometimes called Thespians.
Mini Task 1
• When did theatre start? Around 500 BC.
• Where did it start? Athens, Ancient Greece.
• Why were festivals held? To honour of the God Dionysus.
• When Did they stop? Around 200 BC
• Why did they stop? The fall of the Greek Empire.
• Who was the first actor? Thespis
• Why is he remembered? He won the first competition.
The Plays
Three types of plays were performed for 9 hours each day of the
festival, Tragedies, Comedies, and to end the day a farcical Satyr play.
Only a few scraps of scenes from Satyr plays survive so we really don’t
know what they were like other than very funny and very rude! At the
end of the festival prizes would be awarded for the best plays and actors
and punishments, including death, would also be given out to people
who had misbehaved in the theatre.
Mini Task 2
• What were the three types of plays performed at the festivals?
• Why don’t we know what Satyr plays were like?
• What happened at the end of the festival?
The Plays
Three types of plays were performed for 9 hours each day of the
festival, Tragedies, Comedies, and to end the day a farcical Satyr play.
Only a few scraps of scenes from Satyr plays survive so we really don’t
know what they were like other than very funny and very rude! At the
end of the festival prizes would be awarded for the best plays and actors
and punishments, including death, would also be given out to people
who had misbehaved in the theatre.
Mini Task 2
• What were the three types of plays performed at the festivals?
Comedy, Tragedy & Satyr.
• Why don’t we know what Satyr plays were like?
None survived.
• What happened at the end of the festival?
Prizes and punishments were awarded.
The Audience
The festival was thought so important that every Athenian citizen was
supposed to attend, even prisoners were released from prison so they
could see the plays. The first theatres were built of wood with wooden
seating on the sides of hills that made natural amphitheatres. During the
4th-3rd centuries BC these early theatre were replaced with more
permanent stone structure like the one at Epidavros. Most people sat on
the stone benches but at the front of the auditorium by the stage there
were some seats with back for important members of the audience.
Mini Task 3
• Who went to the festival?
• What were the first theatres built of?
• What were later theatres built of?
• Where were the theatres built?
• Where did most people sit?
The Audience
The festival was thought so important that every Athenian citizen was
supposed to attend, even prisoners were released from prison so they
could see the plays. The first theatres were built of wood with wooden
seating on the sides of hills that made natural amphitheatres. During the
4th-3rd centuries BC these early theatre were replaced with more
permanent stone structure like the one at Epidavros. Most people sat on
the stone benches but at the front of the auditorium by the stage there
were some seats with back for important members of the audience.
Mini Task 3
• Who went to the festival? All Athenian citizens.
• What were the first theatres built of? Wood.
• What were later theatres built of? Stone
• Where were the theatres built? On the sides of hills.
• Where did most people sit? On stone benches (for 9 hours!!!)
An artists drawing of what the theatre at Epidavros near
Athens might have looked like around 300 BC.
The Parts Of A Greek Theatre
Mini Task 4
Draw and label a diagram of a Greek Theatre.
Ancient Greek Actors
There were 3-5 main actors and a chorus of 12-15 singers/ dancers. All
the actors were men and each actor would be expected to play a variety
of roles in any play. However some actors only played serious parts in
Tragedy while others were famous for the roles they played in
Comedies.
Mini Task 5
• How many actors were there?
• How many in the chorus?
• How many parts in each
production might an actor
play?
A Greek vase showing a group of actors resting backstage.
Ancient Greek Actors
There were 3-5 main actors and a chorus of 12-15 singers/ dancers. All
the actors were men and each actor would be expected to play a variety
of roles in any play. However some actors only played serious parts in
Tragedy while others were famous for the roles they played in
Comedies.
Mini Task 5
• How many actors were there?
3-5
• How many in the chorus?
9-12
• How many parts in each
production might an actor
play? Several
A Greek vase showing a group of actors resting backstage.
Examples of Greek Theatre Masks
Woman
Man
Boy
So they could change character
quickly, Greek actors wore masks.
Old Man
Comedy
Costumes
As well as masks, Ancient Greek actors wore long costumes . This also
helped them to change character very quickly and this was important as
there were only a few actors in each play to perform all the parts.
A fresco painting of Tragedy/comedy masks
A vase painting showing an actor holding a mask.
Theatre’ Symbol
The Masks, representing Comedy and Tragedy, have become the
international symbol for theatre.
Mini Task 5
• Why did Greek actors wear long costumes and masks?
• What are the two types of masks used to symbolise theatre?
Theatre’ Symbol
The Masks, representing Comedy and Tragedy, have become the
international symbol for theatre.
Mini Task 5
• Why did Greek actors wear long costumes and masks?
So they could change character quickly.
• What are the two types of masks used to symbolise theatre?
Comedy & Tragedy.
End of Part One
An Introduction to Shakespeare’s Theatre
Part Two – Medieval Theatre
An Introduction to Shakespeare’s Theatre
Part Two
Objectives
In this lesson you are going to
find out about:
• Why theatre started in England.
• Mystery Cycles
• Pageant Wagons
• Chester and its Mystery Cycle.
You will complete some MiniTasks and a Quiz. You also have
to answer a Question about
Romeo & Juliet in the End of
Semester Exam.
Medieval Theatre
We need to jump forward now about 1800 years from Ancient Greece
to the Middle Ages in England. Theatre had ceased to exist after the fall
of the Roman Empire. Church services in England were in Latin which
ordinary, uneducated people did not speak. To help them understand
the Bible, the priests in church started acting out stories from Bible at
festival times like Christmas and Easter.
Mini Task 1
• Why did priests in church start
acting out scenes from the Bible?
• When did they act the stories out?
• Why couldn’t ordinary people
understand church services?
Medieval Theatre
We need to jump forward now about 1800 years from Ancient Greece
to the Middle Ages in England. Theatre had ceased to exist after the fall
of the Roman Empire. Church services in England were in Latin which
ordinary, uneducated people did not speak. To help them understand
the Bible, the priests in church started acting out stories from Bible at
festival times like Christmas and Easter.
Mini Task 1
• Why did priests in church start
acting out scenes from the Bible?
To help people understand Bible
stories.
• When did they act the stories out?
Festival times like Christmas &
Easter.
• Why couldn’t ordinary people
understand church services?
They were in Latin.
Medieval Mystery Plays
Now there was nothing on the telly and wasn’t going to be for another
700 years, so these ‘plays’ became very popular; so popular in fact that
they could no longer be held inside churches. So town craft guilds like
the Candle-makers or the Shoemakers took over responsibility for
performing one scene from the Bible story. For example the Shipmakers
would perform the story of Noah and the Ark as the obviously knew
about building boats. These scenes were performed on carts called
Pageant Wagons that were taken around the town. They would stop at
fixed points and the guild members
would perform their scene.
Mini Task 2
• Who took over acting out the Bible
stories?
• What did the actors use as their stage?
• Where were the scenes performed?
A drawing of a craft-guild stage cart.
Medieval Mystery Plays
Now there was nothing on the telly and wasn’t going to be for another
700 years, so these ‘plays’ became very popular; so popular in fact that
they could no longer be held inside churches. So town craft guilds like
the Candle-makers or the Shoemakers took over responsibility for
performing one scene from the Bible story. For example the Shipmakers
would perform the story of Noah and the Ark as the obviously knew
about building boats. These scenes were performed on carts called
Pageant Wagons that were taken around the town. They would stop at
fixed points and the guild members would perform their scene.
Mini Task 2
• Who took over acting out the Bible stories? Craft Guilds.
• What did the actors use as their stage? Carts or Pageant Wagons.
• Where were the scenes performed? At various points around the town
Medieval Mystery Plays
Engraving depicting an early Chester Mystery Play
A Modern Day ‘Guild’ Cart from the York Cycle
Medieval Mystery Plays
Copies of the scripts for some of these Mystery Cycles as they are
called, have survived for nearly 1000 years and are still performed today
in cities like Chester, York, Lincoln, Coventry and Wakefield. The York
cycle has 48 scenes and the Chester Cycle 24. The Chester cycle is
performed every five years and school, choir, band, drama and church
groups volunteer to perform in it.
Mini Task 3
• How many scenes does the York cycle
have?
•How many scenes does the Chester
cycle have?
• Who performs the cycle of plays in
Chester today?
A Pageant Wagon from the 2006 York
Cycle production
Medieval Mystery Plays
Copies of the scripts for some of these Mystery Cycles as they are
called, have survived for nearly 1000 years and are still performed today
in cities like Chester, York, Lincoln, Coventry and Wakefield. The York
cycle has 48 scenes and the Chester Cycle 24. The Chester cycle is
performed every five years and school, choir, band, drama and church
groups volunteer to perform the various scenes in it.
Mini Task 3
A Pageant Wagon from the 2006 York
•How many scenes does the York cycle
Cycle production
have? 48
•How many scenes does the Chester
cycle have? 24
• Who performs the cycle of plays in
Chester today? School, drama , choir,
band and church groups
Chester Today
Chester is a city that traces it’s
history back to Roman times. The
buildings you see here are about
700 years old and date from the
late Middle Ages.
The monument you can see below
dates from 1476 and was the centre
of the old city. It would have an
important place to watch the Mystery
plays from.
These shopping areas are called ‘The Rows’
and are still very popular with shoppers
today.
End of Part Two - Next Time
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
An Introduction to Shakespeare’s Theatre
Part Three
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
Objectives
In this lesson you are going to
find out about:
• Shakespeare’s early life
• Shakespeare's early
plays.
• The Globe Theatre
• 16th Century London
Theatre.
You will complete some MiniTasks and a Quiz. You also have
to answer a Question about
Romeo & Juliet in the End of
Semester Exam.
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
Early Life
Shakespeare is believed to have been born on 23rd April 1564 in
Stratford-upon-Avon . Shakespeare probably began his education at the
age of six or seven at the Stratford Grammar School and as was the case
in all Elizabethan grammar schools, Latin was the primary language of
learning. That Shakespeare acquired an impressive familiarity with the
stories by Latin authors, as is evident from his plays and their sources.
Mini Task 1
• When was Shakespeare born?
• Where did he go to school?
• What language was he taught?
• How did this help him later?
The house of Shakespeare’s father, John.
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
Early Life
Shakespeare is believed to have been born on 23rd April 1564 in
Stratford-upon-Avon . Shakespeare probably began his education at the
age of six or seven at the Stratford Grammar School and as was the case
in all Elizabethan grammar schools, Latin was the primary language of
learning. That Shakespeare acquired an impressive familiarity with the
stories by Latin authors, as is evident from his plays and their sources.
Mini Task 1
• When was Shakespeare born?
23rd April 1564
• Where did he go to school?
Stratford Grammar School
• What language was he taught?
Latin
• How did this help him later?
He used the stories for his plays
The house of Shakespeare’s father, John.
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
Early Life
Shakespeare married the 26-year-old Anne Hathaway in 1582 when
he was 18. After the birth of his twins in 1585 Shakespeare seems to
have ‘disappeared’ from all known records and does not re-appear until
his plays start being performed in London in 1592.
This period in Shakespeare's life has come to be known as the ‘lost
years’. It is speculated that he did may jobs like being a schoolmaster or
he may have gone abroad to Europe where he heard the stories he was
later to turn into plays such as Romeo & Juliet.
Mini Task 2
• Who was Shakespeare's wife?
•When did Shakespeare ‘disappear’?
•What is Shakespeare supposed to have done in
the ‘Lost Years’?
Ann Hathaway
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
Early Life
Shakespeare married the 26-year-old Anne Hathaway in 1582 when
he was 18. After the birth of his twins in 1585 Shakespeare seems to
have ‘disappeared’ from all known records and does not re-appear until
his plays start being performed in London in 1592.
This period in Shakespeare's life has come to be known as the ‘lost
years’. It is speculated that he did may jobs like being a schoolmaster or
he may have gone abroad to Europe where he heard the stories he was
later to turn into plays such as Romeo & Juliet.
Mini Task 2
• Who was Shakespeare's wife? Ann Hathaway
• When did Shakespeare ‘disappear’? 1585
•What were the ‘Lost Years’? The years when
Shakespeare disappears from all known records.
• What is Shakespeare supposed to have done in
the ‘Lost Years’? Been a schoolmaster or gone
abroad.
Ann Hathaway
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
Early Work
Some biographers suggest that Shakespeare’s career probably began
as an actor sometime in the mid-1580s. From 1594, Shakespeare's plays
were performed by only the Lord Chamberlain's Men, a company
owned by a group of players, including Shakespeare, that soon became
the leading theatre company in London.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603, the company was
awarded a royal patent by the new king, James 1which allowed them to
carry on acting. The company then changed its name to the King's Men.
Mini Task 3
• When did Shakespeare's
acting career begin?
• Who performed his plays
from 1594-1603?
• Who were the ‘Kings Men’?
Patent: published orders from a monarch giving someone a specific right
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
Early Work
Some biographers suggest that Shakespeare’s career probably began
as an actor sometime in the mid-1580s. From 1594, Shakespeare's plays
were performed by only the Lord Chamberlain's Men, a company
owned by a group of players, including Shakespeare, that soon became
the leading theatre company in London.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603, the company was
awarded a royal patent by the new king, James 1which allowed them to
carry on acting. The company then changed its name to the King's Men.
Mini Task 3
• When did Shakespeare's
acting career begin? Mid 1580’s
• Who performed his plays
from 1594-1603? The Lord Chamberlain's Men
• Who were the ‘Kings Men’? Shakespeare’s new
acting company, formed by Royal Patent in 1603 after QE1 died.
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
The Blackfriars Indoor Theatre
In 1599, a partnership of company members, including Shakespeare,
built their own theatre called The Globe, on the south bank of the River
Thames. In 1608, the partnership also took over the Blackfriars indoor
theatre which allowed them to perform plays in all weathers and
throughout the year. Records of Shakespeare's property purchases and
investments indicate that the company made him a wealthy man.
In 1597, he bought New Place, the
second-largest house in Stratford.
Mini Task 4
• What was Shakespeare’s new theatre
called?
• Where was it built?
• What was his indoor theatre called?
• How can you tell Shakespeare was a
successful playwright in his own time?
A replica of the Blackfriars Theatre
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
The Blackfriars Indoor Theatre
In 1599, a partnership of company members, including Shakespeare,
built their own theatre called The Globe, on the south bank of the River
Thames. In 1608, the partnership also took over the Blackfriars indoor
theatre which allowed them to perform plays in all weathers and
throughout the year. Records of Shakespeare's property purchases and
investments indicate that the company made him a wealthy man.
In 1597, he bought New Place, the
second-largest house in Stratford.
Mini Task 4
• What was Shakespeare’s new theatre called? The Globe
• Where was it built? The South Bank of the river Thames
• What was his indoor theatre called? The Blackfriars Theatre
• How can you tell Shakespeare was a successful playwright in his own
time? He was able to buy the second biggest house in his home town.
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
The Swan
There are no contemporary
drawings of any of Shakespeare’s
theatres. What we know about The
Globe we have learned from
architectural plans from this
period.
The only drawing in existence of
an Elizabethan theatre is a tourist
sketch. Johann DeWitts was a
Dutch visitor to London and this is
the drawing he made of The Swan
theatre in London in 1595
Mini Task 5
List 5 features of the Swan Theatre.
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
The Swan
Mini Task 5
List 5 features of the Swan Theatre.
Any of the following:
• An open Air Theatre with no roof.
• Galleried seating all round the
stage.
• Raised stage.
• Two entrance doors at the back of
the stage.
• A gallery above the doors.
• A roof over the back of the stage
supported by two columns.
• No scenery.
• An open space in front of the
stage (for the audience to stand
in).
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre was built in
1599 by Shakespeare's company
the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and
destroyed by fire on 29 June
1613 by which time Shakespeare
had retired back to Stratfordupon-Avon
A second Globe Theatre was
built on the same site by June
1614 and closed in 1642 because
of the English Civil War.
Mini Task 6
• When was The globe built?
• When was it destroyed?
• Why was the second Globe
closed?
A Model of the Globe Theatre
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre was built in 1599 by
Shakespeare's company the Lord
Chamberlain's Men, and destroyed by fire on
29 June 1613 by which time Shakespeare had
retired back to Stratford-upon-Avon
A second Globe Theatre was built on the
same site by June 1614 and closed in 1642
because of the English Civil War.
Mini Task 6
• When was The globe built? 1599
• When was it destroyed? 29 June 1613
• Why was the second Globe closed?
Because of the English Civil War.
A Model of the Globe Theatre
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
A cut away drawing of the Globe Theatre
In this diagram you can see the three Galleries of seating as well as the
courtyard and canopy over the stage. In the Globe, plays were only
performed during the daytime in
the summer months. A flag was
flown to show that a play was
being performed. You could sit on
the benches for six-pence or a
shilling (12d) but a cushion would
cost an extra penny!
Mini Task 7
• When were plays Performed?
• How would the audience know
a play was to be performed?
• How much did it cost to stand
and watch the play?
• How much to sit?
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
A cut away drawing of the Globe Theatre
In this diagram you can see the three Galleries of seating as well as
the courtyard and canopy over the stage. In the Globe, plays were
only performed during the daytime in the summer months. A flag was
flown to show that a play was being performed. You could sit on
the benches for six-pence or a shilling (12d) but a cushion would
cost an extra penny!
Mini Task 7
• When were plays Performed?
During the daytime in the
summer months.
• How would the audience know
a play was to be performed?
A flag was flown.
• How much did it cost to stand
and watch the play? 1 d [penny]
• How much to sit? 12 d or a shilling.
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
The New Globe Theatre
You can see from this authentic reconstruction of The Globe that the
theatre was an ‘0’ shape with no central roof. There was a canopy over
the stage to keep the actors dry and the gallery seats also had some
shelter from the elements. But the people who stood in the courtyard to
watch the play had no shelter from wind and rain at all. These patrons
paid one penny to stand and watch the play and were known as
‘Groundlings.’
Mini Task 8
•How did the actors
stay dry?
• Who got wet?
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
The New Globe Theatre
You can see from this authentic reconstruction of The Globe that the
theatre was an ‘0’ shape with no central roof. There was a canopy over
the stage to keep the actors dry and the gallery seats also had some
shelter from the elements. But the people who stood in the courtyard to
watch the play had no shelter from wind and rain at all. These patrons
were known as ‘Groundlings.’
Mini Task 8
•How did the actors stay dry? They
performed under a canopy.
• Who got wet? The ‘Groundlings.’
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
The Globe Stage
On this model you can see that the stage had three entrances at the
back and a gallery with a balcony above the entrances. This was used for
musicians but also came in handy for the ‘balcony scene’ in Romeo &
Juliet. You can also see that two pillars were
used to support
the canopy. The stage also had a trapdoor
which could
be used for special effects like a ghost
appearing.
Mini Task 9
• How many entrances were
there?
• What was the balcony used
for?
• What was the trapdoor
used for?
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
The Globe Stage
On this model you can see that the stage had three entrances at the
back and a gallery with a balcony above the entrances. This was used for
musicians but also came in handy for the ‘balcony scene’ in Romeo &
Juliet. You can also see that two pillars were
used to support
the canopy. The stage also had a trapdoor
which could
be used for special effects like a ghost
appearing.
Mini Task 9
• How many entrances were
there? 3.
• What was the balcony used
for? Musicians and the
balcony scene from R & J.
• What was the trapdoor
used for? Special effects.
Shakespeare wrote three types of plays, Histories, Tragedies and Comedies.
This is a list of his plays and the year of first performance.
You will need to know the name of one Comedy, Tragedy and History play for
the Quiz and Mid-Tem exam. Mini Task 11: Write down one example of each.
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
His Last plays
After 1606–1607, Shakespeare wrote fewer plays, and none are
attributed to him after 1613. His last three plays. The Winter’s Tale, The
Tempest and Henry VIII were collaborations,
probably with John Fletcher, who succeeded him
as the house playwright for the King’s Men.
The last play, Henry VIII [1612] was written about
Queen Elizabeth I’s father. It seems odd that he left
writing the last of the History plays until so long after
Henry V which he wrote in 1598. But Henry VIII had
a controversial life and married six times, divorcing
two of his wives and having two others executed.
So while Queen Elizabeth was alive, Shakespeare
could not risk writing a play that criticised her father.
Mini Task 12
• What were Shakespeare's last three plays?
• Why did he wait so long to write Henry VIII?
Henry VIII
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
His Last plays
After 1606–1607, Shakespeare wrote fewer plays, and none are
attributed to him after 1613. His last three plays. The Winter’s Tale, The
Tempest and Henry VIII were collaborations, probably with John Fletcher,
who succeeded him as the house playwright for the King’s Men.
The last play, Henry VIII [1612] was written about Queen Elizabeth I’s
father. It seems odd that he left writing the last of the History plays until so
long after Henry V which he wrote in 1598. But Henry VIII had a
controversial life and married six times, divorcing two of his
wives and having two others executed. So while Queen
Elizabeth was alive, Shakespeare could not risk writing a
play that criticised her father.
Mini Task 12
• What were Shakespeare's last three plays?
The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest and Henry VIII
• Why did he wait so long to write Henry VIII?
He had to wait until Queen Elizabeth I died (and then a few
years so everyone was not so fond of her!)
Henry VIII
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
His Legacy
Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616 and in his will, Shakespeare left the
bulk of his large estate to his elder daughter Susanna.
Shakespeare's will scarcely mentions his wife, Anne,
but he did leave her "my second best bed", This may
seem an insult to Anne, but the best bed was
reserved for guests, the second-best bed would have
been the matrimonial bed and therefore rich in
significance. He was buried in Trinity Church in
Stratford-upon-Avon.
His real legacy though is the 36 plays he wrote
which have intrigued and entertained audiences and
scholars for 400 years.
Mini Task 13
• How many plays did Shakespeare write?
Shakespeare’s
• How long ago did Shakespeare die?
monument in Holy
Trinity Church,
Legacy: something (such as property or money)
Stratford-Upon-Avon.
that is received from someone who has died.
Shakespeare & The Globe Theatre
His Legacy
Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616 and in his will, Shakespeare left the
bulk of his large estate to his elder daughter Susanna.
Shakespeare's will scarcely mentions his wife, Anne,
but he did leave her "my second best bed", This may
seem an insult to Anne, but the best bed was
reserved for guests, the second-best bed would have
been the matrimonial bed and therefore rich in
significance. He was buried in Trinity Church in
Stratford-upon-Avon.
His real legacy though is the 37 plays he wrote
which have intrigued and entertained audiences and
scholars for 400 years.
Mini Task 13
• How many plays did Shakespeare write? 37
Shakespeare’s
• How long ago did Shakespeare die? 398 years.
monument in Holy
Trinity Church,
Legacy: something (such as property or money)
Stratford-Upon-Avon.
that is received from someone who has died.
The New Globe Theatre in London
The New Globe Theatre in London
The New Globe Theatre in London
The New Globe Theatre in London