The legendary William Shakespeare was born in April of 1564 and lived a long life of adventure and literary accomplishment. The renowned English playwright and poet produced 27 plays in total, with the majority of his work existing in the form of five-act dramatic poetry. It is widely accepted among scholars that Shakespeare’s work began as theatre writing and progressed to more substantial compositions, with some seeing it as an evolution. Whatever the case may be, Shakespeare’s prolific career spanned several notable historical events and saw him be recognized as one of the greatest writers of all time. His most well-known works include Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and The Merchant of Venice. Since 1893, thousands of plays have been published and performed all over the world each year.
An Actor’s Actor
While Shakespeare wrote plenty of plays, his most famous works are probably Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. The three plays are regarded as benchmarks of the English language and have been performed more than any other plays in history. For over 300 years, these three plays have been staged and interpreted by leading actors and theatrical companies from around the world. These productions are now known as Shakespeare’s “major” or “elaborate” plays and are considered some of the greatest stage performances of all time. These are the three plays that launched Shakespeare’s career and established him as a playwright to be reckoned with.
A Playwright’s Playwright
Shakespeare’s plays are often regarded as the starting point of modern theater and have been performed in theaters around the world ever since. While some might argue that Shakespeare’s plays merely evolved to fit the standards of the modern stage, it is more likely that the plays themselves informed the evolving dramatic structure of the twentieth century.
The most famous and widely produced of Shakespeare’s plays are arguably his romances. Most notably, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream have remained popular for centuries not only because of their timeless romance but also because of their iconic staging. While many of Shakespeare’s plays are rooted in historical events and figures, the majority of his work is set in contemporary times and is often satirical in nature. This was most likely due to the ever-changing nature of life in England during that time and the increasing influence of contemporary life on his dramatic works. Many of Shakespeare’s plays feature major characters speaking or acting in languages other than English. For example, several of his plays feature characters speaking or acting in French or Spanish. With multiple acts and scenes in different languages, Shakespeare’s plays are some of the most complicated scripts ever written. This level of complexity makes these plays difficult to stage but makes them interesting to study from a literary standpoint.
A Writer’s Writer
Most notably, Shakespeare authored several significant works that have not been performed in a while. Around this time, the theatrical industry began to favor dramas over comedies. While Shakespeare’s comedic skills are unparalleled, he had to switch gears and compose a number of tragicomedies. His most famous works of this type are Othello, King Lear, and Winter’s Tale. Like many other playwrights at the time, Shakespeare’s dramatic works began to see less and less production as theatre spread around Europe during this era and audiences shifted to comedic and folkloric theater.
A Man Of Many Parts
It is well known that Shakespeare was a prolific writer and that his work covered a range of subject matter. Not only did he write plays but he was also an actor, a director, and a vocalist. He was the founder and captain of the troupe of actors known as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and also joined the Lord Chamberlain’s Men as a writer. Additionally, Shakespeare was often a playwright and actor for the King’s Men – a company that later became part of Queen Elizabeth’s Men. It is thought that Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Twelfth Night (amongst others) for the King’s Men and that these were later repurposed for the Queen’s Men.
Many Worlds, One Drama
The fact that Shakespeare was a prolific writer means that he covered a range of topics in his work. However, this also makes it difficult to pin down a specific theme or tone to his dramatic works. The fact that these plays often feature multiple themes and characters from different worlds speaks to the multitudinous nature of drama and its many forms. It is often said that Shakespeare wrote for all ages and that his work should be accessible to anyone willing to listen. While his comedies might be suitable for an audience of any age, the majority of his work is meant to be performed in a theatre setting and might therefore only be enjoyed by an audience of a similar age bracket.
The World’s Greatest Theatre Writer
While Shakespeare is often seen as the greatest dramatist of all time, he is also one of the greatest writers of all time. With a career that spanned several decades and several countries, it is not hard to see why he is regarded as such a vital figure in modern theater. Many of his plays have been adapted for film and television and have been instrumental in establishing modern theatre as we know it today.