Travelog for: WillShakespeare

The name's Shakespeare.  Will Shakespeare.

Actor, poet, playwright, the greatest ever Englishman.

I was born so long ago that my birthdate year isn't even on the list of possibles!

It's been a long time since I walked the earth, and I want to see as much of this 'Brave new world' as possible.

In return, I would like to tell you a little about my world, and my work.  I look forward to making your further acquaintance.

Of all the outlandish ideas!  Today, MrsToyVoyagers decided to take me on an outing on a charabanc of some description.  A double decker no less!

Apparently the aim was to "re-orientate" me within my old surroundings:  it was a bus trip round Stratford!

The things these young folk think of ....

Well, fellow culture-lovers.  Here I am (still riding the majestic steed that is the CitySightseeing Tour Bus of Stratford) outside the Royal Shakespeare Company's Swan Theatre.

Now this wasn't here in my day (it's a Victorian building), but I must admit it's quite thrilling to have not just a theatre named after you (take that, Garrick!) but a whole Theatre Company no less!!!

Here I am outside The Swan.  It's quite familiar to me inside - the interior was modelled on an Elizabethan theatre.  Feels just like home! ... except it has a roof, comfy seats, new-fangled fancy lighting, a sound system, no groundlings throwing rotten fruit at the actors.  Ah, the good old days....

Here's the church (Holy Trinity) where I was baptised, married, and buried - but let's not dwell on that last bit, shall we? 

When I get time, I'll go back and show you round in more detail.  Today's a Prologue, if you will, to the main performance that will be the rest of my Travelog 

Here I am retracing my steps to my beloved Anne's cottage ...
(I'm sure this sign is new.)

And me a mere boy of 18 ...

And she a woman of 26 ... 

Ah, those were the days ....

We were married in November 1582.

Our first child Susanna, born the following May.

You do the maths 

Here's my wife's family home (allegedly, for history boffins say it might not be true.)

Do you wonder that I fell in love, in such surroundings?

Today I fancied a spot of reading, so I've borrowed Isobel's current reading book to relive my former glory, and to see what critics have been saying about me since my demise.  I hope 'Jonathan Bate' will be kind.

(Hopefully it's better than 'upstart crow' which is what someone called me when I was alive!)

Please note the Title:  " ...Genius ..." - I think I like this writer's work already!

What??!! 

Now here's an 'upstart crow' indeed!! 

J.K.Rowling?  What manner of fellow is this?

Harry Potter?  A name for a numbskull character if ever I heard one!

And to think, 'The Genius of One's Own Self' has been thrown o'er for this!

I think I will complain. 
I think I will strike.
No more Travelog updates for me!

But I'll have a quick look at this Harry Potter nonsense first... 
Check out the competition if you will.

"Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes
Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,
The bird of dawning singeth all night long;
And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad;
The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike,
No fairy takes, nor witch have power to charm;
So hallow'd and so gracious is the time."

A Christmas verse - one of mine own - from Hamlet
And a snapshot of my good self outside York Minster