His Early Life
William Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest writers ever in the English language. He was born in Stratford-on-Avon, England in 1564. At 18 he got married to Anne Hathaway, the daughter of a wealthy landlord. After the births of their 3 children, Shakespeare moved to London to become an actor and write plays and poetry.
Life In the Theatre
Shakespeare joined a company of actors called The King's Men. Actors both wrote and acted their own plays and he wrote his first, The Comedy of Errors, in 1594. He quickly became the most famous and popular playwright in England. His work was even performed at the Royal Court. In 1599, the company opened a theatre called The Globe.
His Works
Shakespeare wrote 38 plays, all of which were performed at The Globe. These include:
- Comedies such as A Midsummer Night's Dream and Much Ado About Nothing.
- Tragedies such as Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.
- Histories such as Henry V and Julius Caesar.
As well as plays Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets. Shakespeare's works made him rich and he retired to his home town, where he died in 1616. His poems and plays are still staged and studied all over the world today.