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Shakespeare on Stage
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
More Performances…
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Shakespeare in love?

Shakespeare's marriage: the facts

  • After Shakespeare's baptism, there are no public records of him until his marriage in 1582.
  • On 27 November 1582, a marriage licence was granted to "Wm Shaxpere et [and] Anne Whateley*."


  • On 28 November 1582, a 40 pound bond was posted by two Warwickshire farmers for the legality* of a marriage between "William Shagspere" and "Anne Hathwey."


  • The next public record indicates that six months later, on 26 May 1583, Shakespeare's first daughter Susanna was christened.


  • Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Records Office.


Two women (it seems) and a child born--and surviving-- after six months?

Speculate on. . .

Footnotes

  1. What about Whateley?

    Nothing is known of Anne Whateley, if she was ever more than a clerical error. Whateleys did live in the area of Stratford.

  2. The banns

    To ensure that there was no impediment to the marriage, it was announced three times at the local church--and these announcements were the "banns." However, if a marriage was urgent, and the banns were to be read less than three times, it was normal for the Bishop to secure a bond of this kind.