A dramatisation of the life of famed playwright William Shakespeare from 1590 to 1607.
Queen Elizabeth I rules the country and Christopher Marlowe rules the theatre. From Stratford-upon-Avon, a young man called William Shakespeare arrives in London determined to match Marlowe as poet and playwright.
As England lies ravaged by plague, Shakespeare has usurped Marlowe as playwright of the day.
Will Shakespeare produces the greatest play about young love - Romeo and Juliet. But what of his own love? Who is the 'dark lady' he adores and curses in his sonnets?
Shakespeare wishes for his son Hamnet to have everything, despite disapproval from the rest of his family.
Shakespeare is drawn into the dangerous political intrigues of Robert Devereux the Second Earl of Essex.
Queen Elizabeth dies and King James succeeds her to the throne. What does the future hold for Will Shakespeare and for the actors who bring his plays to life?
Tim Curry
William Shakespeare
Paul Freeman
Dick Burbage
John Normington
Alex Cooke
Ronald Herdman
Sam Crosse
Ron Cook
Jack Rice
Roger Lloyd Pack
Jack Heminge
Richard Cordery
Henry Condell
1978
2011
2004
2010
1979
2026
1990
2007
2014
2008
2016
1987
1993
2019
2013
2022
2015
2001