When Christopher Rush’s superb fictionalized account of Shakespeare’s life was first published in 2007, no less an authority than John Bayley of St Catherine’s College, Oxford remarked that the author “has made the Bard live!” – and we here at beautifulsounds.co.uk agreed, producing an unabridged audio which is now available for download elsewhere on this site.
But then we got thinking: given that Christopher’s taught Shakespeare for over 30 years, and given that his book is scrupulously researched, wouldn’t it be useful as an educational resource, to help bring the Bard alive for both teachers and students?
So, with this aim in mind, we’ve divided the audio up into segments of various lengths, any or all of which can be used as stimulants to debate in the classroom. Each segment has a theme and a brief synopsis on this web page, with a full PDF document offering further topics for exploration available when the first download is purchased. And once purchased, teachers and lecturers can play the audio in the classroom, or students can download it themselves and listen on their MP3 players wherever and whenever they want! The entire audio costs £7.99, and covers the entire span of Shakespeare’s life from 1564 to 1616; or, if you prefer, individual segments can be bought for £0.99 - as you can see below, there are 40 to choose from. So whether you need to know Shakespeare’s entire biography, or just focus on a small part of it, there’s something both entertaining and informative here for everyone.
Please be aware: there is occasional strong language and adult content in these audios, so those in positions of authority or responsibility should always audition them first.
The audio begins with Shakespeare lying on his deathbed, discussing the final draft of his Will with the family lawyer, Francis Collins. As they talk, Shakespeare starts to look back over his life . . . Here’s a contents list of our audios, and some of the major topics they raise.
Audio Chapter 01
Shakespeare’s Family - Where did they come from? What did they do? Who were Shakespeare’s parents? How did they meet?
Audio Chapter 02
Shakespeare’s Parents, Brothers and Sisters – How many brothers and sisters did Shakespeare have? How long did they live? What was early childhood like in Elizabethan times? What were the dangers?
Audio Chapter 03
Religion – What was the state religion in England under Elizabeth 1st? What were the origins of the Church of England? What was the Shakespeares’ religion? [Warning: This audio contains a graphic account of the deaths of Latimer & Ridley during the reign of Queen Mary 1st]
Audio Chapter 04
Shakespeare’s first trip to the theatre? – What was Shakespeare’s first experience of drama? Could it have been the Earl of Leicester’s pageant organized at Kenilworth Castle in honour of the visiting Queen Elizabeth? What would he have seen? How did it affect him?
Audio Chapter 05
Stratford-on-Avon – What was Stratford like when Shakespeare was born there in 1564? Where did he live? Who were his neighbours? What did his father and mother do? What would Shakespeare have seen?
Audio Chapter 06
Snail-like to school – At what age did Shakespeare go to school? Did he like it? What did he learn? Who taught him? Who was his favourite writer, and why?
Audio Chapter 07
Mr Shakespeare Senior – Was Shakespeare’s father important in Stratford? What sort of man was he? Was he a good father? How did he become Mayor? What did the job involve? Did being a Catholic harm his career?
Audio Chapter 08
Mrs Shakespeare – How did Shakespeare meet Anne Hathaway? Who was she? What did her family do? How old were they when they married?
Audio Chapter 09
Mrs Shakespeare Part 2 – What were weddings like in Elizabeth’s time? Where did the newlyweds spend their early married life? Did they have children?
Audio Chapter 10
Farewell to Stratford – Why did Shakespeare leave Stratford to live in London? What was there for him? Did he know what he wanted to do? Was leaving easy?
Audio Chapter 11
Hello London – What was Shakespeare’s journey like? What was his route? How did he travel? How did he feel when he arrived? How did London compare with Stratford?
Audio Chapter 12
The London Stage – What were London theatres like? How many were there? What was staged? Who went? How much did it cost? What was it like being an actor?
Audio Chapter 13
Shakespeare’s Dark Lady? – Who was Shakespeare’s “dark lady” of his Sonnets? Was she one woman, or a composite of several? Was Shakespeare faithful to his wife? [Warning: This audio contains a graphic sex scene]
Audio Chapter 14
A Clown’s Life – Who did Shakespeare meet in London? How did he go about getting a job in the theatre? What were The Queen’s Men? Who was Richard Tarleton? What did a clown do? What do they do in Shakespeare’s plays? Why?
Audio Chapter 15
The Theatre – Who was James Burbage? What, and where was “The Theatre”? Where was drama acted before theatres existed? Who were Burbage’s rivals in London?
Audio Chapter 16
Shakespeare’s Big Break? - Where did Shakespeare get his first job in the theatre? What did he do? Who was his boss? How did he become an actor? What was it like being an actor? Was it a steady job?
Audio Chapter 17
Christopher Marlowe - Who was Christopher Marlowe? What plays did he write? Was Shakespeare influenced by him? What is his importance in theatre history? [NB: see also Audio 19]
Audio Chapter 18
Early Writing – Why did Shakespeare first put pen to paper? How did he choose what to write? How was it received? Who were his rivals? [NB: there is material in this audio suitable for the discussion of: Henry VI, Parts 1,2,& 3; the Histories]
Audio Chapter 19
Marlowe’s Death – How did Marlowe die? Was he murdered, and if so, who by and why? How did Shakespeare react? How did it affect his career?
Audio Chapter 20
Shakespeare’s Poetry – Why did Shakespeare abandon the stage for poetry in 1593? What were the poems about and who were they for? How do they compare with his plays? [NB: there is material in this audio suitable for the discussion of: Venus & Adonis; The Rape of Lucrece; Love’s Labour’s Lost; The Taming of the Shrew; The Merchant of Venice; Romeo & Juliet; The Two Gentlemen of Verona – see also Audio 21]
Audio Chapter 21
Love Triangle – Where did Shakespeare get the inspiration for his Sonnets? Who was the “lovely boy” ? Was Shakespeare gay? Who was the “Dark Lady”? – see also Audio 12. [Warning: This audio contains a graphic sex scene]
Audio Chapter 22
The Merchant of Venice – Why did Shakespeare write the play? Is Shylock a sympathetic character? What did Shakespeare think of him? Did he even identify with him? How does the play compare with Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta?
Audio Chapter 23
Death of a Son - What was going on in Stratford while Shakespeare was in London? How did his son Hamnet die? Was Shakespeare a bad father? How was his son’s death reflected in subsequent plays?
Audio Chapter 24
Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, Henry V – What prompted Shakespeare to return to his cycle of English history plays? How did he do his research? How accurate are they? How are these different from the Henry VI plays? Who is Sir John Falstaff? Why is he so popular with audiences?
Audio Chapter 25
The Globe Theatre – How much did Shakespeare earn? What were his duties in the theatre? What were the economic pressures on actors? Why did Shakespeare’s acting company move theatres? How accurate a reproduction of the original Globe Theatre is the current Globe on London’s South Bank? What aspects of acting and theatregoing have changed since Shakespeare’s time?
Audio Chapter 26
Twelfth Night – How funny are Shakespeare’s comedies? Is Twelfth Night purely a comedy? How does it compare to Shakespeare’s other comedies? Was Shakespeare essentially a happy man or not?
Audio Chapter 27
A Father’s Death – What was Shakespeare’s relationship with his father like? What are the father figures like in his plays? And father/son relationships? Did John Shakespeare’s death influence the writing of Hamlet ?
Audio Chapter 28
The Death of Elizabeth 1st – Was Elizabeth a successful monarch? What were the pressures on her? Did Shakespeare know her? Did she know him? Was she a fan?
Audio Chapter 29
The Accession of James 1st – Did the change of monarch alter what Shakespeare wrote? What was James 1st like? How different was he from Elizabeth? What is a tragedy? Why did Shakespeare write a whole string of them around this time? Was he essentially of a gloomy disposition? What would make him so?
Audio Chapter 30
Measure For Measure - What is a “problem play”? What kind of genres did Shakespeare write in? Did he like to experiment? Was Measure For Measure a comment on the current political situation? What was Shakespeare’s attitude to power?
Audio Chapter 31
Shakespeare the Lodger – Was Shakespeare a canny businessman as well as a brilliant playwright? How rich was he? What properties did he own? How did he once end up testifying in court?
Audio Chapter 32
King Lear – Why is King Lear such a gloomy play? Why do the good guys lose? Was Shakespeare religious? Did he believe in heaven and redemption?
Audio Chapter 33
Macbeth – What are the main themes in Macbeth? Why write a play set in Scotland? How and did Shakespeare alter his source material?
Audio Chapter 34
Othello, Antony & Cleopatra & Coriolanus – Why did Shakespeare stop writing tragedies? Do his tragic figures have anything in common? What drew Shakespeare to these particular stories?
Audio Chapter 35
Death & the Family - What do we know of Shakespeare's daughters? Who did they marry?
Audio Chapter 36
The Blackfriars Theatre – How did the Blackfriars Theatre differ from the Globe? Did its construction influence the plays Shakespeare wrote to be performed in it? How were theatrical fashions changing by 1609? Was Shakespeare becoming a has-been? [NB: there is material in this audio suitable for the discussion of: The Winter’s Tale; Pericles]
Audio Chapter 37
The Tempest - Was the play Shakespeare’s farewell to his craft? Is he Prospero?
Audio Chapter 38
Retirement – Why did Shakespeare finally return to Stratford after over 20 years? Did he actually retire? Did he like it back home? What was his family life like?
Audio Chapter 39
Will’s Will – What was in Shakespeare’s will? What did he leave and to whom? And why did he leave Anne Hathaway his second best bed?
Audio Chapter 40
Epilogue – what would Shakespeare have said if he’d had the chance to explain himself and his art to us? Would he be surprised how his work has survived ad how popular it remains? What are the secrets of its success?
