Main content

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 Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 in October 2004.

25 days left to listen

15 minutes

Last on

Tuesday 03:30
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra

More episodes

Previous

You are at the first episode

Next

2. Married in Haste

See all episodes from Will in the World by Stephen Greenblatt

Broadcasts

  • Mon 22 Jun 2009 14:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 7
  • Tue 23 Jun 2009 04:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 7
  • Mon 2 Aug 2010 15:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 7
  • Mon 30 May 2011 15:45
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 15 Apr 2013 14:45
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Monday 08:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Monday 13:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Monday 19:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Tuesday 03:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra