Shakespeare is dying in 1616 at Stratford's Attic Theatre - The Stratford Observer

Shakespeare is dying in 1616 at Stratford's Attic Theatre

Stratford Editorial 10th Aug, 2015 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

William Shakespeare is dying on stage at the Attic Theatre in Stratford.

One man show 1616 sees our greatest playwright re-live his own dramatic, grimy and humorous life story.

Locked in a room inside his Stratford home, the poet, actor, lover, betrayer, moneylender and ‘king’s man’ conjures a final audience to pick through the ‘rinds and fruits’ of his life.

In this Trans-Atlantyk production, playing at the Lazy Cow-based theatre until August 23, Shakespeare revisits the passions and politics that formed him and explores themes of aging, memory and creativity.




Following his critically acclaimed one-man Woyzeck at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival, actor/writer Gareth Somers plays Shakespeare, his friends and his adversaries.

Gareth said: “I wanted to examine the image of the great humanist and genius, in the light of research suggesting illegal activities might have been partly responsible for his ability to retire in 1613, as the largest property owner in Stratford-upon-Avon.


“Further studies pointing to a complex sexuality, a penchant for interracial relationships and a skill for staying out of jail – despite treading very dangerous waters – offered me opportunities to paint a picture of his very vivid life, times, comrades and adventures.

“This production is timed to coincide with next year’s anniversary of his death. And it is the culmination of a 25 year of study of Shakespeare’s plays through my work as an actor, director, writer and lecturer. 1616 questions who William Shakespeare really was and imagines what might have been going through his mind in his dying hours.”

Visit www.theattictheatre.co.uk for tickets, priced £12 (£10 concessions), and performance details.

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