No one knows the exact date of Shakespeare’s birthday, but 23 April has been generally used. No one knows the date he died
either, but this has also been given as 23 April!- Shakespeare’s works contain hundreds of references to birds of all kinds, including the swan, bunting, cock, dove, robin,
sparrow, nightingale, swallow, turkey, wren, starling, falcon, and thrush, to name just a few.
- Shakespeare is the most widely read author in English-speaking countries. His works are second only to the Bible in popularity.
- Many Londoners were strict Protestants, called Puritans. They hated the theatre and theatre-goers. In 1596 the London authorities
banned the public performances of plays and all theatres within the City of London were forced to move to the south side of
the River Thames.
- At the start of each play, the admission collectors would collect money from the audience in a box. They would then put the
boxes in a room backstage – hence the name ‘box office’ used in theatres today.
- Several words that we use today stem from Shakespeare, such as ‘puke’, ‘bedroom’, ‘leapfrog’, ‘fairyland’ and ‘zany’. And if you say ‘laugh it off ’ or ‘too much of a good thing’ you are quoting Shakespeare!
- Macbeth is Shakespeare’s most produced play ever.
- Did you know all the roles of women or girls were played by boys/men?
- The word ‘bard’ actually means ‘poet’, but for centuries people have used it primarily as a nickname for William Shakespeare.
So, whenever you hear someone say ‘the Bard’, or the ‘Bard of Avon’ (Stratford-upon-Avon being his hometown) they are talking
about Shakespeare.
- Shakespeare’s tombstone is inscribed with this epitaph, which is believed to have been written by Shakespeare himself. It’s
a warning to anyone who dares to dig up his bones that they will be cursed:
Good friend for Jesus sake forbear
To dig the dust enclosed here!
Blest be the man that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones.