The Dark Lady of Sonnets

George Bernard Shaw’s The Dark Lady of the Sonnets is a fun, one act play that reimagines William Shakespeare’s and Queen Elizabeth’s first meeting. Written as an appeal to create a National Theatre in England, the short play has William going to Whitehall palace to meet the Dark Lady to whom he addresses his sonnets of love, only to fall for the Queen herself as they randomly meet! As Will juggles both women’s tempers and desires, he finds himself inspired to write new material and appeal for a theatre where bold tragedies will be taken seriously.