William Shakespeare (I)
- English
- Writer
Press clippings
Tim FitzHigham on Shakespeare's joke writer
Archive research has revealed new information about a 16th Century comedian and his influence on William Shakespeare. Robert Armin began working with the Bard's acting troupe in the 1590s and became the principal comedic performer in 1599 when William Kemp left the group. Tim FitzHigham, comedian and creative director of Shakespeare's Guildhall in King's Lynn, Norfolk, says he believes many of the Bard's best known comedic roles would have been written and performed by the comedian.
Clare Worden, BBC, 23rd March 2025Outnumbered stars reunite in co-creator's audiobook
Outnumbered stars Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner are reuniting to record the audio version of a new novel from Guy Jenkin, the sitcom's co-creator.
British Comedy Guide, 19th February 2025You're bard! A history of censorship ... or why the jokes in Shakespeare are shit
Don't like cancel culture? Be grateful you didn't live in Britain in the 17th Century when the Puritan-led Parliament cancelled culture entirely.
Becky Fury, Chortle, 25th November 2024Further details set for Much Ado About Nothing
The Jamie Lloyd Company has announced the on-sale dates for its production of Much Ado About Nothing.
The new revival of Shakespeare's much-loved comedy stars Tom Hiddleston (Loki, Betrayal, Avengers: Endgame) as Benedick and Hayley Atwell (Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Rosmersholm, Captain America: The First Avenger) as Beatrice, directed by Jamie Lloyd.
Alex Wood, What's On Stage, 25th September 2024Union criticises 'censorship' after play cancelled
Acting union Equity has criticised a "growing culture of censorship" after a production of Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream was cancelled, reportedly in a dispute over references to the Israel-Gaza war and trans rights.
Ian Youngs, BBC News, 18th September 2024Shakespeare comedy has five-week run cancelled due to 'Gaza and trans rights references'
A production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in Manchester has been axed over references to Gaza and trans rights, reports have claimed.
Lydia Spencer-Elliott, The Independent, 17th September 2024Upstart Crow axed by the BBC, David Mitchell reveals
Upstart Crow will not be returning to the BBC, David Mitchell has revealed. Ben Elton's Shakespeare sitcom ran for three series on BBC Two, with three Christmas specials and a spin-off stage play. Mitchell has said that he would love to reprise his role as the Bard and appealed to other broadcasters to rescue the period sitcom.
British Comedy Guide, 2nd October 2023Russell Brand's Shakespeare show to be streamed
On demand and PPV service, LIVENow, has announced that on 14 July audiences can watch exclusively on the platform a filmed version of Russell Brand's one man theatre show, Our Little Lives: Shakespeare & Me, in which he takes some life lessons from Shakespeare.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 16th June 2021All the best comedy groans with puns
From Tim Vine to Shakespeare.
Sam Leith, The Telegraph, 8th December 2019On the eve of its presentation to Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare's controversial new play about the Mary Stuart - Mary The Frog-Jock - goes mysteriously missing. And Will's best friend Kit Marlowe (Tim Downie) is in the frame, in ye second parte of Ben Elton's Tudor comedy. Perhaps make that "tragi-comedy": this is no Blackadder II, and the usually assured David Mitchell as Shakespeare certainly seems a trifle uncomfortable barking out lines such as "I am not going bald, I have low eyebrows."
Ali Catterall, The Guardian, 16th May 2016