Series
Simon Schama's Shakespeare
Documentary
Simon Schama explores the life and times of William Shakespeare to shed a new and fascinating light on some of the greatest plays ever written. He asks the question: "What came first, Englishness, or Shakespeare's idea of it?" and produces a persuasive argument in favour of the latter.
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Seasons & episodes
1This England22 Jun 2012 · 60mSchama explores how, in his history plays, Shakespeare created a vision of England that still rings true today. Against the backdrop of the Reformation, Shakespeare began to dramatize English history and the English character in a new and unprecedented way. From his first blockbuster, Henry VI, he made sure that his England was not just a place where King and Queens strutted and preened, but where ordinary Englishmen and women took centre stage.
2Hollow Crowns29 Jun 2012 · 60mSimon Schama explores Shakespeare’s attitude to the other great subject of his day - Kingship. He asks how far Shakespeare’s most profound tragedies, including Richard II, Hamlet, Macbeth and King Lear, were inspired by his own experience of writing for the courts of Elizabeth and James I.
Details
- Created by
- Simon Schama
- First aired
- 22 Jun 2012
- Last aired
- 29 Jun 2012
- Status
- Ended
- Language
- English
- Network
- BBC Two
- Episodes
- 2
- Votes
- 1 on TMDB
Where to watch (US)
Cast
Simon SchamaSelf - Presenter
Harriet Walter
Peter de Jersey
Simon Russell Beale
Tobias Menzies
Andrew Scott
