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1. The Players are Here

Episode 1 of 5

Reconstructing the life, work and era of William Shakespeare - the Bard gets his first taste of theatre. Read by Toby Stephens.

A reconstruction of Shakespeare's life, work and the age he lived in.

As a young schoolboy in Stratford-on-Avon, William studied Latin. Actors visited the family home when Shakespeare was five and in 1575 Queen Elizabeth I stayed for 19 days at Kenilworth with Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester.

It's probable that John Shakespeare would have taken his son to see the elaborate shows put on in her honour.

Book written by Stephen Greenblatt, first published in 2004.

Abridged in five parts by Miranda Davies

Read by Toby Stephens

Other extracts read by:

Alice Hart
John Rowe

Producer Emma Harding

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2004.

15 minutes

Last on

Tue 17 Dec 202403:30
BBC Radio 4 Extra

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2. Married in Haste

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    BBC Radio 4 Extra