Shakespeare was the company's regular dramatist, producing on average two plays a year, for almost twenty years.

He also became a founding member of The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a company of actors. They were two long poems, 'Venus and Adonis' (1593) and 'The Rape of Lucrece' (1594). Scholars generally refer to these years as ‘ The Lost Years’.ĭuring his time in London, Shakespeare’s first printed works were published. Shakespeare's career jump-started in London, but when did he go there? We know Shakespeare's twins were baptised in 1585, and that by 1592 his reputation was established in London, but the intervening years are considered a mystery. For an overview of William Shakespeare's life, see Shakespeare's Life: A Timeline.Their first daughter, Susanna, was born six months after the wedding and was later followed by twins Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet died when he was just 11 years old. It was a rushed marriage because Anne was already pregnant at the time of the ceremony. When he was eighteen, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was twenty-six. William Shakespeare would have lived with his family in their house on Henley Street until he turned eighteen. His elevated status meant that he was even more likely to have sent his children, including William, to the local grammar school. John Shakespeare worked as a glove-maker, but he also became an important figure in the town of Stratford by fulfilling civic positions. John and Mary lost two daughters as infants, so William became their eldest child. John Shakespeare married Mary Arden, and together they had eight children. Records survive relating to William Shakespeare’s family that offer an understanding of the context of Shakespeare's early life and the lives of his family members. Shakespeare’s poems also remain popular to this day. Shakespeare’s plays are perhaps his most enduring legacy, but they are not all he wrote. Shakespeare was a prolific writer during the Elizabethan and Jacobean ages of British theatre (sometimes called the English Renaissance or the Early Modern Period). His birthday is most commonly celebrated on 23 April (see When was Shakespeare born), which is also believed to be the date he died in 1616. William Shakespeare was a renowned English poet, playwright, and actor born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. Information to help you plan your visit to Shakespeare's family homes Prices, booking, opening times and more to help you get organisedĮnjoy seasonal activities and special events throughout the year Walk in Shakespeare's footsteps at Shakespeare's New Place Relive Shakespeare's love story at Anne Hathaway's Cottage Visit William Shakespeare's Birthplace and explore his childhood world, right where it all began.

The william shakespeare complete plays