Since mine own doors refuse to entertain me, I'll knock elsewhere
A 600-year-old doorway that may have once led to Shakespeare's dressing room has been unearthed by archaeologists at one of the UK's oldest working theatres.
The archway was found in St George's Guildhall, in King's Lynn, Norfolk, during archaeological investigations at the theatre, after an unusual shape was identified in a wall.
The venue's creative director Tom FitzHingham said that this archway is thought to be the door to the ‘guild robing room’ – a private room where visiting actors could change into their costumes and store props. He told The Stage that the door would have been built in the 1390s, ‘and would still have been in use when Shakespeare walked through the door.’
Floorboards believed to have been performed on by Shakespeare were revealed at the venue last October. The discovery prompted a swell in visitor numbers, doubling the footfall.
‘I hope that this year, after this discovery, we might even double it again, which would be absolutely extraordinary,’ said FitzHingham.
The distinctive building, which is Grade I-listed, claims that Shakespeare performed there when his company fled London due to a plague outbreak.
I saw't not, thought it not, it harmed not me
Shakespeare's Globe has made its first cinema broadcast in five years, showing Ola Ince's Othello in cinemas nationwide (until 13 October).
Ince said she was ‘enormously excited’ to share the production, stating: ‘It's a modern retelling for new and old Shakespeare enthusiasts framing the brutality of racism and misogyny with the most phenomenal bunch of actors. Expect Shakespeare's brilliant tragedy with a modern psychological twist.’
Chui-Yee Cheung, head of film distribution, revealed the broadcasts will be accompanied by behind-the-scenes content. They said: ‘After five years, we are so proud to be bringing the Globe's Sam Wanamaker Playhouse into cinema screens across the UK. For audiences from Plymouth to Inverness, from Edinburgh to Liverpool, and beyond, we are very much saying: “If you can't come to the Globe, the Globe will come to you”.’
Featuring Charlotte Bate, Sarah Cullum, Ralph Davis and Ken Nwosu, Othello was performed as part of the 10th anniversary season of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
Be not afraid of greatness
Registration is open for the 2024-25 Shakespeare Schools Theatre Festival – a cultural education project that supports young people to perform abridged Shakespeare plays on professional theatre stages.
Participants take part in workshops led by professional actors and directors, with preparations spread out over the course of around eight months.
Annually, thousands of young people take part, including primary, secondary and SEND schools from across the UK. The programme was developed in 2000 from the BBC's classroom resource, Shakespeare: The Animated Tales.
Schools are provided with abridged scripts, award-winning resources, CPD training, ongoing teacher/school support, a half-day in-school workshop for students, and opportunities for professional theatre performance experience.
Register now at http://shakespeareschools.org
© SHAKESPEARE CORAM SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
Students enjoying Shakespeare Schools Festival