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
Behind the Curtain: The 12 Days of Christmas
What does Twelfth Night have to do with Christmas? Elizabethans celebrated Christmastime over 12 days with traditions and events that dated back centuries, such as the Feast of the Epiphany. Might Shakespeare have produced one of his most famous plays as part of these festivities for Queen Elizabeth I and her court? Read on and find out...
Twelfth Night Synopsis & Setting
A detailed summary of the play and the setting of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare.
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.
Twelfth Night Reading List
Calling all readers! Multnomah County Library put together a reading list inspired by our production of Twelfth Night, Or What You Will.
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.
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.
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Improvisation Classes for Beginners
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Every winter, youth at p:ear are looking for basic needs such as socks, backpacks, bus tickets, gift cards, art supplies, and other items. The Giving Tree helps p:ear fuel their mission to provide mentoring services to Portland’s homeless and parent-less young people.
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!
Acting Shakespeare: Monologues
Dive into the world of the Bard and explore the excitement of performing Shakespeare!
An Evening with Storm Large
Join us for a very special Portland Center Stage benefit concert, featuring the legendary Storm Large.
Foundations of Improvisation
Looking to expand your knowledge and skills of improvisation? Whether you did theater in high school and want to jump back in, are looking to find creative connections with others, or are a theater professional looking to deepen your training, this course is perfect for you!
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