The Talented Mr Shakespeare

Available for over a year

It is the last day of 1591 and William Shakespeare, a talented but incredibly pompous writer, is thrown out of the pub for being drunk, disorderly and for carving his name in the furniture. He's been ruining everyone's New Year's Eve. He stumbles home alone, pondering why success does not always equate to popularity. Meanwhile, the less talented but slightly less annoying writer, Christopher Marlowe, discovers that Shakespeare is claiming sole authorship over their collaborations on the Henry VI plays. It's the final straw and he plots with renowned actor Will Kemp to kill Shakespeare. When Kemp gets cold feet and tells Shakespeare of Marlowe's intentions, a counter plot evolves, and soon they team up with Lady Audrey Walsingham, a close personal friend of the Queen, who has her own axe to grind with the unfortunate Marlowe. Cast: Mark Gatiss as Sir Robert Cecil Arthur Hughes as Christopher Marlowe Harry Kershaw as Will Kemp Renee Lamb as Lady Audrey Tom Mothersdale as Will Shakespeare Alana Ramsey as Queen Elizabeth & Martha Travis Ross as John the Messenger Original Music By Ed Scolding Sound Presentation by Wilfredo Acosta Written and Directed by Wilf Scolding Producer: David Morley A Perfectly Normal production for BBC Radio 4