William Shakespeare’s birthday

This week marks William Shakespeare’s birthday on April 23, and one month since the UK ent4red into lockdown to help to fight the spread of the coronavirus

William Shakespeare, one of England’s greatest poets and dramatists, was born in 1564, who wrote some of his most well known plays like King Lear,  during a outbreak of plague and a period of lockdown when his theatre was closed.

Shakespeare attended the Christian Holy Trinity Church, the now famous limestone ross-shaped cathedral on the banks of the Avon River.

At the age of 18 Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who bore him three children. Between 1585 and 1592 he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer and part-owner of the playing company the Lord Chamberlin’s Men, later known as the King’s Men. He retired in Stratford around 1613, where he died three years later.

The Bard if Avon has been referred to as a “literary genius” and Britain’s greatest playwright and poet. His comedies included The Taming of the Shrew and a Midsummer Night’s Dream as well as tragedies like Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and King Lear.

The Globe Theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare was built in 1599 but was later destroyed by fire. A replacement Globe Theatre was rebuilt on the same site in 1614 and closed in 1642.

Verse for lovers,

Prose for Ruffians,

Songs for clowns.

When wooing ladies try comparing them to a  Summer’s day. If that fails,  say

“Get Thee to a nunnery”.

When wooing lads try dressing up like a man. If that fails, throw him in the tower, banish his friends, and claim the throne

Rhymed couplets are all the rage.