Biography - William Shakespeare

by Osman

William Shakespeare was born on the 23rd April (St. George’s Day), in 1564 in Stratford. He attended school at Stratford grammar and his father, John Shakespeare, who was the mayor of Stratford, believed that is was important to have an education. Shakespeare, who was inspired to become an actor at the age of 5, became an actor.

William Shakespeare, an amazing actor, got married at the age of 18 to a lady called Anne Hathaway in 1582. They had three children. Susanna was born in 1885 and the two other children, who were twins were called Hamnet and Judith. After the marriage, Shakespeare went to London with other actors. However, he realised that he was more talented at writing plays and sonnets than acting! When he started writing, he wrote a play called Henry V and that was the first ever play to be performed at The Globe Theater so many people went. In 1593, a terrible plague hit London and killed thousands of people. This tragically caused to shut all theaters down in London.

In London, the Globe Theater was introduced in 1598. To many people, it looked like a cross between a doughnut and a 50p! The Globe Theatre was different to our theaters. There were ‘groundlings’ and ‘sheltered tiers’. The sheltered tiers sat in seats with shelter and get pomanders to cover up the stinky smell. The plays that were played there were Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Henry V and many more. In 1613,the Globe Theater burnt down caused by an exploding cannon. Devastatingly, it burnt down the thatched roof.

Sadly, on the 23rd April 1616, his birthday, he died in a pub toilet. He was buried at a Holy Trinity Church. In his lifetime, he wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets. He gave his property to his grandsons and rudely gave his wife the second best bed! . It is believed that if you remove his body he will put a curse on you! In 1997, a replica of the Globe Theater was built as a way to remember this incredible man.