William Shakespeare
Shakespeare's works include 38 plays, 2 narrative poems, 154 sonnets, and a variety of other poems. No original manuscripts of Shakespeare's plays are known to exist today. It is actually thanks to a group of actors from Shakespeare's company that we have about half of the plays at all. They collected them for publication after Shakespeare died, preserving the plays. These writings were brought together in what is known as the First Folio ('Folio' refers to the size of the paper used). It contained 36 of his plays, but none of his poetry.
The Bard was said to have been born sometime in the days preceding his baptism on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon to John Shakespeare, a leatherworker and civic leader, and Mary Arden. Due to the death of his two older sisters, William was the eldest surviving Shakespeare sibling and had five younger siblings. Because of the Shakespeares’ social status, it is believed that William went to school from age 7 to age 15.
William was married to Anne Hathaway when he was 18 and she was 26. At the time of their wedding, Anne was already pregnant with their first child. The couple would go on to have twins, though their son, Hamnet, died when he was just 11 years old.
It is unclear when Shakespeare moved to London and began his career as a writer and actor, but sometime between the birth of his twins in 1585 and the first mention of him as a playwright in 1592, he began to establish himself as a popular dramatist and poet.
Career Timeline
- 1564: William Shakespeare born in Stratford-upon-Avon
- 1582: Shakespeare marries Anne Hathaway
- 1583: Shakespeare’s first child, Susanna, is born
- 1585: Shakespeare’s twins, Judith and Hamnet, are born
- 1592: Shakespeare is first alluded to as a playwright, in Greene’s Groates-worth of Wit
- 1593: Shakespeare’s first printed poem, Venus and Adonis, appears
- 1594: Shakespeare’s first printed play, Titus Andronicus, appears
- 1596: Shakespeare’s father, John Shakespeare, is granted a coat of arms which granted him and his descendants certain rights and privileges under the law; Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, dies
- 1597: Shakespeare purchases New Place, his home in Stratford-upon-Avon
- 1598: Shakespeare is first mentioned as a sonneteer and author of 12 plays in Palladis Tamia
- 1599: Shakespeare’s acting company takes down its old theater and uses the timber to build the Globe
- 1600: Extracts from Shakespeare’s plays and poetry appear in Bel-vedere, the first printed literary commonplace book to include plays
- 1601: Shakespeare’s father, John Shakespeare, dies
- 1603: Shakespeare’s acting company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, becomes the King’s Men at the accession of James I; Hamlet appears in print
- 1607: Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna marries John Hall
- 1608: Shakespeare’s mother, Mary (Arden) Shakespeare, dies; his granddaughter Elizabeth is born
- 1609: Shakespeare’s Sonnets appears in print
- 1613: Shakespeare purchases the Blackfriars gatehouse in London; the Globe burns down during a performance of Henry VIII and is rebuilt within a year
- 1616: Shakespeare writes his will; his daughter Judith marries Thomas Quiney; Shakespeare dies
- 1623: The First Folio is published; Shakespeare’s widow Anne dies 4
Reviews of A Midsummer Night's Dream
"Such a talented cast, using so many skills — from physical comedy to interpretive dance to (obviously) Shakespearian verse with contemporary delivery. We were so impressed!"
"The play's the thing! In addition, great ushers, excellent cocktail, great set, good acting, good choreography, creative costumes. Loved the fact ...
Synopsis and Notes on A Midsummer Night's Dream
A little background information and a summary of the play. Contains spoilers!
A Most Lamentable Comedy: The Play-Within-a-Play
Although he may not have invented it, Shakespeare famously employed the "play-within-a-play" in several of his works. See how the Bard used this metatheatrical device in A Midsummer Night's Dream to both reference and parody a classical Ovidian myth.
A Midsummer Night's Dream Reading List
Calling all readers! Multnomah County Library put together a reading list inspired by our production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Shakespeare’s Collaborators: Sean San Jose & Rosa Joshi
Meet the theater artists whose collaborative creativity in adapting Shakespeare's words brought this unique production of Coriolanus to life.
The World of the Play: Coriolanus' Rome
Situated on the Tiber River in central Italy, Rome grew from a city to an empire over the course of centuries. Sort out myth from fact with this primer on the historical setting of Shakespeare's Coriolanus.
A Synopsis of Coriolanus
Beware spoilers! Primarily based on Plutarch's account of a legendary Roman general, Shakespeare's Coriolanus is a dramatic tale of war, politics, and betrayal.
Shakespeare's England
With booming trade, increasing incomes, and a swelling population facing plagues and uncertain food supplies, England during the time of Shakespeare was an era of both prosperity and mortality.
Coriolanus Reading List
Calling all readers! Multnomah County Library put together a reading list inspired by our production of Coriolanus.
Current & Upcoming
Improvisation Classes for Beginners
Whether you're looking to get more confident in social situations, think quicker on your feet, or get in touch with your imaginative side, these "one-off" improv classes will set you on the path to success!
Adult Class : TWELFTH NIGHT, Before & After
Join veteran actor Joe Costa for a unique opportunity to take a “deep dive” into both Shakespeare’s text of Twelfth Night, and the PCS Production. Participants will read the play out loud as a group, with “intermissions” provided for lively discussion of themes and content. Interested participants will have a chance to act in selected scenes, guided by the instructor.
Improv Comedy: Love, Shakespeare
Witness the Magic of unscripted Elizabethan comedy! Step into the offbeat world of Love, Shakespeare, where seasoned Portland comedians attempt something audacious: performing a fully improvised Elizabethan play based on your suggestions!
Albina Music Trust presents A Brown Branch Christmas
Celebrate this holiday season with A Brown Branch Christmas at Portland Center Stage. Now in its fourth season, this two-night big band celebration features directors Domo Branch and Charlie Brown III guiding a heavy 15-piece lineup of regional and national musicians.
BIPOC Affinity Night DJ Party with ALoSo
Join us for a double feature BIPOC Affinity Night, featuring a live DJ set by ALoSo, plus holiday craft market vendor tables, art exhibits by Albina Music Trust Wall to Wall Sound and Jason Hill's Favorite Things, with complimentary select drinks provided by Multnomah Whiskey Library and Deschutes Brewery while supplies last.
Winter Teen Academy: Scene Work
Calling all teens! Are you looking to expand your acting skills and be the best scene partner you can be for your fellow actors? In this class, we will dig deep into scene study, character motivation, and active listening, while learning the necessary questions to ask in every rehearsal situation. You'll develop fuller characters and deeper relationships on stage by partnering in scene work — and have lots of fun too!
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