William Shakespeare, Stratford – upon – Avon, going to the theatre
William Shakespeare
WS is probably the greatest dramatics of England. He lived and worked in the 16th century in the period of the Renaissance.
- WS was born on 23 April, 1564, at Stratford – upon – Avon. His father John, was glovemaker. His mather called Mary. At the age of seven he started attending the local grammar school and was educated there.
- At eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway. Anne was eight years older. They had three children together – Susanna and the twins – Hamnet and Judith.
- He lived in London. He was a member of a repertory group – Lord Chamberlain´s Men. By 1599 this all- male company had built their own theatre, the Globe. Many of Shakespeare’s greatest plays were acted there.
- In 1613 the Globe was destroyed by fire.
- So Shakespeare went home. His son Hamnet had died when only eleven, but his two daughters were in Stratford with his wife Anne. He boughts New Place. Here, with his family, he spent the last years of his life.
- He died on 23 April, 1616. He is buried at Trinity Church in Stratford.
- WS wrotes 37 plays which are divided into tragedies, comedies, historical plays and poetry
Tragedies | Comedies | Historical plays | Poetry |
Romeo and Juliet | The Taming of the Shrew | Henry IV | The Sonnets |
Hamlet | A Mindsummer Night´s Dream | Julius Ceasar | |
Othello | The Merchant of Venice | Richard II, III | |
King Lear | The Merry Wives of Windsor | ||
Macbeath | As You Like It | ||
Anthony & Cleopatra | Twelfth Night |
Stratford – upon – Avon
- S-u-A lies in the very centre of England. It is the birthplace of WS.
- There are still many buildings and memories closely connected with him:
- Shakespeare´s Birthplace is in the centre of Stratford.
- Hall´s Croft – home of Shakespeare´s daughter and her husband, John Hall
- Nash´s house –
- New Place – the house where S. died in 1616
- Anne Hathaway´s cottage – AH childhood home