Programme of autumn talks
reveals the dramatic history of Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall

Join historian Dr. Will Green (School of Advanced Study, University of London) this October for two captivating talks exploring how the collision of strict classroom discipline, touring players, and town politics helped ignite a young playwright’s imagination in early modern Stratford-upon-Avon.

Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall is synonymous with the story of William Shakespeare, but the historic building also played an important role in the early development of professional theatre. As the site of Stratford-upon-Avon’s grammar school, it was a place where education and entertainment could collide. Two fascinating talks are taking place in October, delivered by our research associate, historian Dr. Will Green (School of Advanced Study, University of London), which are set to uncover the building’s rich theatrical heritage.

Audiences will first be taken back to the years before Stratford-upon-Avon’s most famous playwright rose to prominence, when touring players transformed the Guildhall into a local playhouse. Their presence was not without controversy, with local debates questioning the appropriateness of theatre in the town. Against a backdrop of power, patronage and plague, Dr. Green will explore the theatrical world of Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, and consider how these performances may have helped ignite the young writer’s imagination as he embarked on the creation of his earliest works.

With so much varied activity taking place under one roof, this was a world of contrasts and contradictions. In the Schoolroom, the classical drama being taught collided with the arrival of travelling players within the same building. The tension between classroom discipline and theatrical freedom would have unfolded around young William, as his own schoolmasters navigated the competing demands of education and entertainment. Dr. Green’s second talk will explore this intriguing scenario, and consider how events played out.

"The Forgotten Playhouse: Travelling Players, Renaissance Stratford, and the Making of Shakespeare" takes place on Sunday 11th October, and is followed on Sunday 25th October by "Schoolboys and Stage-Plays: Education, Authority, and Drama in Stratford-upon-Avon's Guildhall". Talks begin at 2pm, and run for approximately 50 minutes, followed by time for questions immediately afterward.

Each talk is priced at £10, and takes place in the conference room of King Edward VI School (to be entered on the day through Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall's main reception desk). All attendees will also have the opportunity to add on discounted entry to Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall (£10, usually £15) on the day with a valid talk ticket.

We advise you check with the venue regarding any changes to their opening time / availability before leaving home