Shakespeare in Love

By Lee Hall, adapted from the screenplay by Marc Norman & Tom Stoppard 
Directed by Claire Hoult

Tuesday 13th - Saturday 17th August 2024

Studio at New Wimbledon Theatre

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‘The remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he is really very good—in spite of all the people who say he is very good.’

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The year is 1594–ish. An upstart crow from Stratford has promised his latest play to both Richard Burbage who runs the Curtain Theatre and to Philip Henslowe – heavily indebted theatrical entrepreneur and owner of the rival Rose Theatre. The play is the thing, but summer’s lease is all too short and the script is still not written. Inspiration for the masterpiece (working title: Romeo and Ethel the Pirate’s Daughter) is lacking and young Will is suffering from writer’s block. Until he meets Viola de Lesseps -noblewoman, muse, theatre groupie and….surely not…an actor? Cue gender-bending mistaken identities as men play women, and women play men playing women - all leading to a comedy of errors and the greatest love story ever written. Royal patronage, backstage intrigue, gruesome assassination and true love – the course of which is not known for running smooth - all conspire to create a fast-paced Elizabethan theatrical romp. ‘Comedy. That’s what they want. Love and a bit with a dog.’ We’re not sure about the dog.

Lee Hall’s stage adaptationis based on Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard’s Oscar-winning screenplay.

The play has a couple of main roles and an ensemble who are required to take on some fairly large roles and many very peachy cameos.

Main Roles:

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Will Shakespeare (m?): 30s-ish.

Viola de Lessops (f?): 30s-ish

The ensemble includes other great roles (most of which will be doubled with smaller parts and all of which can be played any gender and a wide range of ages) such as:

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Richard Burbage: actor, businessman, theatre-owner

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Philip Henslowe: another theatrical entrepreneur – and desperate to repay his creditors by means of that great money-making enterprise know as theatre

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Kit Marlowe: Shakespeare’s more-successful playwright friend

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Queen Elizabeth: Judi Dench or QE2 or similar?

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Viola’s nurse: on control of the fates of the lovers - as in Romeo and Juliet

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Ned Alleyn: very theatrical leading actor of his day

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John Webster: a bloodythirtsy wannabe who grows up to write some spectacularly gory plays

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Sir Robert de Lessops: Viola’s betrothed and a fairly vile human being – needs to marryViola for money and keen to head to his plantations in Virginia