The Man Who Was Hamlet tells the Tragical Comical Romantic and utterly scandalous History of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, identified in the 20th century as the real 'William Shakespeare'. Strikingly echoing the story and character of Hamlet, scandal and tragedy plagued the life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, courtier, swordsman, adventurer, playwright and poet. He killed a servant, abandoned his wife, got his mistress with child, travelled in Italy, was captured by pirates, fought the Armada, was imprisoned in The Tower of London, maimed in a duel and died virtually bankrupt. He was also hailed as the best of the secret Elizabethan court writers but his work stopped appearing under his own name after the invention of... 'William Shake-speare'. So was de Vere the inspiration for Hamlet... or was he really the author? A monstrous adversary appears and the Shake-speare's name will never sound the same again after THE MAN WHO WAS HAMLET tells his dramatic story. Suitable for ages 12+. Running time: 1hr 30mins| 8 Feb 13 | Square Chapel Arts Centre Halifax, West Yorkshire Performance Details => Venue archive |
| 9 Jun 11 to 3 Jul 11 | Riverside Studios Outer London, Greater London Performance Details => Venue archive |
