Shakespeare authorship debate to be brought to Liverpool stage

George Dillon in "The Man Who Would Be Hamlet"

The centuries-old question of whether or not Shakespeare wrote his own plays will be brought to life at Liverpool's unitytheatre as celebrated actor George Dillon investigates the story behind Hamlet.

In the award-winning solo performer's show, "The Man Who Was Hamlet", the Danish prince’s dying words summon Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford - the man widely believed to be behind Shakespeare's work - from hell to tell his own 'tragical, comical, romantic and utterly scandalous history.

Despite 400 years of research not a single piece of evidence has been found to directly connect an uneducated un-travelled grain-merchant from Stratford with the authorship of the works attributed to ‘William Shake-speare’.

Early last century a disgraced aristocrat was ‘discovered’ to be the true author and Edward de Vere is now regarded as the leading alternative candidate.

Courtier, swordsman, adventurer, playwright and poet, Edward de Vere killed a servant, made love to Queen Elizabeth, abandoned his wife, got his mistress with child, was maimed in a duel, travelled in Italy, was captured by pirates, fought the Armada, was imprisoned in the Tower of London, kept two companies of players, but disappeared from history for 15 years before he died virtually bankrupt.

He was also hailed in youth as the best of the secret court writers but his work suddenly stopped after the first invention of... 'William Shake-speare'.

So, Dillon asks, was de Vere the inspiration for Hamlet... or was he really the author?

"The Man Who Was Hamlet" is showing at the unitytheatre, 1 Hope Place, Liverpool on Wednesday 24th February at 8pm. All tickets £6.50 and can be booked by calling 0844 873 2888 or via the website www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk

Comments about Shakespeare authorship debate to be brought to Liverpool stage