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The BIG Secret Live - I Am Shakespeare - Webcam Daytime Chat-room Show
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With Mark Rylance as your host, Frank Charlton, authorship enquirer.
A dark and stormy night. In his garage in Kent, Frank Charlton - a schoolteacher who threw away a promising academic career by daring to question the authorship of the Shakespeare plays - prepares for his daily broadcast. Through his subversive internet show, Frank continues to explore his obsession with the authorship, whilst attempting to dodge the ‘helpful’ attentions of his nutty neighbour Barry.
Today, however, via the dramatic interaction of a lightning storm and the collective unconscious of the world-wide-web, Frank finds himself confronted with the real William Shakespeare… and the real Francis Bacon… then Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford… and finally the real Mary Sidney…
Mayhem ensues, as Frank tries to interview each of the four characters from the past - all of whom claim they wrote the plays - whilst his neighbour keeps interrupting and the police arrive to investigate the pandemonium.
Who is the real author? Can Frank restrain himself from murdering Barry long enough to take this historic opportunity and find out? Or will the police arrest him first? And what does Kirk Douglas have to do with all this?
Mark Rylance was formerly Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre (1995 - 2005). You can see why.
Find out more
- Want to know more about the authorship debate? Read about it on Wikipedia, listen to Mark Rylance discussing the debate or download the podcast for free.
- Want to debate the issue futher? Join the I Am Shaksespeare facebook group (facebook account required) or go to www.doubtaboutwill.net to find out more about the Declaration of Reasonable Doubt.
Co-producers and sponsors
Last performance |
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Press night |
School's Matinee |
Charity Performance |
Post-show Talk |
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Michael Redgrave coped with his daughter, Vanessa, by calling her “divinely mad”, and Ma...Benedict Nightingale - The Times -
Mark Rylance has long been a prominent figure among those who doubt Shakespeare was solely responsib...Paul Taylor - The Independent
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"What's in a name?" a mysterious figure once wrote. In the case of The Big Secret LIV...Kieron Quirke - The Evening Standard
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Nerdy school teacher Frank Charlton is in his Maidstone garage, about to go live with his internet c...Robert Gore-Langton, The Daily Mail
Information
- This production has wheelchair access
- Post show meals are available
Click for more information - Running time: 2 hrs 45 min (including interval) approx
1 interval - 15 mins - View seating plans
