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Will Shakespeare

50min

Drama

Will Shakespeare, also known as Life of Shakespeare and William Shakespeare: His Life & Times, was a 1978 historical drama series created and written by John Mortimer. Broadcast in six parts, the series is a dramatisation of the life and times of the great poet William Shakespeare played by Tim Curry, and was co-produced by Lew Grade's ATV and RAI and distributed internationally by ITC. The two production companies had collaborated successfully before on Jesus of Nazareth the previous year.

Episodes

Cast

Season 1

Dead Shepherd

1. Dead Shepherd

50min

13th Jun 1978

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.

Alms for Oblivion

2. Alms for Oblivion

50min

20th Jun 1978

As England lies ravaged by plague, Shakespeare has usurped Marlowe as playwright of the day.

Of Comfort and Despair

3. Of Comfort and Despair

50min

27th Jun 1978

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?

The Loved Boy

4. The Loved Boy

50min

4th Jul 1978

Shakespeare wishes for his son Hamnet to have everything, despite disapproval from the rest of his family.

Rebellion's Masterpiece

5. Rebellion's Masterpiece

50min

11th Jul 1978

Shakespeare is drawn into the dangerous political intrigues of Robert Devereux the Second Earl of Essex.

The Living Record

6. The Living Record

50min

18th Jul 1978

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?

First air date

13th Jun 1978

Last air date

18th Jul 1978

Status

Ended

Type

Scripted

Original language

en

Networks