Have not we affections, desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?

West End hit Emilia, by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, which transferred after a successful run at Shakespeare's Globe earlier this year, has been made available for performance by educational institutions including secondary schools, sixth-form colleges, universities and drama schools. Nick Hern Books are accepting applications for the performance rights with immediate effect, at rights@nickhernbooks.co.uk, or by calling 020 8749 4953.

Emilia is a passionate, riotous telling – performed by an all-female identifying cast – of the story of 16th century poet Emilia Bassano, and her struggle to be heard. Known to the bard, who revels in a wonderful cameo role; and tipped by the play as the inspiration for some of the more fi ery Emilias he wrote into his own works, Bassano resorted to self-publication under the guise of religious literature in an England which didn't otherwise allow women's work to be published. In turns funny and moving, the play ends with a rabble-rousing call to arms and is ideal material for a talented company of student performers.

I’ll put a girdle round about the earth…

Continuing their ‘First encounters with Shakespeare’ series of productions for 7-13 year-olds, the Royal Shakespeare Company is to tour The Merchant of Venice to schools and theatres from 23 September–16 November 2019. This year's series, produced in partnership with Adobe, will include a digital learning experience, equipping teachers with resources to teach Shakespeare in new, engaging ways using Adobe Spark and Creative Cloud. For tour dates and to book, visit www.rsc.org.uk/first-encounters-the-merchant-of-venice

The company also returns to London's Barbican Centre with productions of As You Like It from 26 October 2019–18 January 2020; The Taming of the Shrew from 5 November 2019–18 January 2020 and Measure for Measure from 12 November 2019–16 January, with all three productions also touring to Salford in 2019, before visiting Canterbury, Plymouth, Nottingham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Blackpool in 2020.

Alongside the season, Barbican Guildhall Creative Learning and RSC Education will collaborate on a conference aimed at teachers from early years to Key Stage 3. Towards a Creative Curriculum will focus on how arts and cultural learning support the new Ofsted framework, offering professional learning opportunities for teachers who want to develop and extend their knowledge and understanding of arts-based learning in the classroom.

The conference will take place at the Barbican on Friday 10 January 2020. https://tinyurl.com/DTAu1BardRSCconf

The many-headed multitude…

There are plenty of opportunities coming up to take your students to see Shakespeare's works – both live on stage and in the cinema.

The Watermill Ensemble takes its productions of Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream on tour from 11 September, beginning at Northern Stage, Newcastle and ending at The Theatre Royal, Norwich on 19 October, visiting Oxford, Poole, Cheltenham and Cardiff too.

In October, cinemas all over the UK will screen The Bridge Theatre's A Midsummer Night's Dream. https://tinyurl.com/DTAu1BardNT

From 6 December 2019–1 February 2020, the Donmar Warehouse presents Teenage Dick, a darkly comic take on Shakespeare's Richard III in which, after years of torment due to his hemiplegia, Richard plots the ultimate rise in power: to become president of his senior class… https://tinyurl.com/DTAu1BardDonmarTD

Looking ahead to next year, priority booking is open for school groups for a production of Macbeth which will play in Hornchurch from 7–29 February, Derby from 2–14 March and the New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich for a week from 16 March, with more tour dates to be announced. Schools-only performances with post-show Q&As, and performance workshops are available; contact learning@queens-theatre.co.uk

And the Young Vic has announced a production of Hamlet for July-August 2020, with the Danish Prince to be played by Cush Jumbo: billed as ‘a new kind of Hamlet for this generation.’ https://tinyurl.com/DTAu1BardYVHam

This fellow is wise enough to play the fool…

There's something inherently Shakespearean about politics, and earlier this year, Theresa May suffered a decisive Caesar-like backstabbing at the hands of the Cassii and Bruti in her party, with the result that we have a new…characterful…Prime Minister. But I know what you’re thinking. WHAT does this mean for the publication date of Boris Johnson's eagerly anticipated biography of the Bard?

I'm afraid it's not looking good. Originally set for publication in time for the 2016 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, publishers Hodder & Stoughton suggested earlier this year that April 2020 was a likely publication date, but the new political captain of this sceptred isle has suggested himself that he might have other things to do. At a hustings event in July, he admitted that ‘There's no doubt at all that being a full time politician means I won't be able, for instance, to rapidly complete a book on Shakespeare that I have in preparation…It means that unjustly neglected author will no longer get the treatment he deserves as fast as it might otherwise happen. That will grieve me because… I love writing about him.’ Don't worry Boris, we at Bardwatching have got you covered.