Explore this Show

Overview

Synopsis

Depressed, creatively stifled, and seeking space from his scolding and promiscuous wife, Anne Hathaway, simple stage-struck farmer Will Shakspere runs away to London, to join a company of Players. Sincere, innocent, and eager to please, Shakspere quickly finds himself involved in court intrigue at the highest level when he becomes the official artistic beard for Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, a sophisticated and powerful nobleman, who wishes to produce his plays anonymously. Shakspere’s natural talent blossoms as he begins to collaborate with the clever Earl, and he finds earthy passion with an alluring bawd named Lucy. But events quickly spin out of his control as Oxford seduces Lucy; the Queen herself demands his name for her masochistic masterpiece “The Taming of the Shrew,” and every craven courtier who fancies himself an author pitches a script, hoping to be produced under the convenient name of William Shakespeare. Can simple Will Shakspere from Stratford-Upon-Avon hang on to his own identity, or will he be overwhelmed forever by the demands of others? Amy Freed’s The Beard of Avon is a rollicking, farcical comedy, which dives gleefully into the greatest authorship controversy of all time to create an entertaining and compelling alternate history, in language rich with poetry, dirty jokes, and universal truths, much like that of the Bard -- or Bards -- themselves.

Show Information

Book
Amy Freed
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2001
Genres
Comedy, Farce, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
16th century, stratford-upon-avon, london
Cast Size
large
Licensor
Samuel French
Ideal For
professional / regional theatre, college / university theatre, community theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Elderly, Late Teen Characters, Large Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Edward de Vere

Lead

Male

Spoken

Anne Hathaway

Lead

Female

Spoken

Will Shakspere

Lead

Male

Spoken

Henry Wriothesley

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Henry Condel

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Queen Elizabeth the First

Supporting

Female

Spoken

John Heminges

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Old Colin

Featured

Male

Spoken

Geoffrey Dunderbread

Featured

Male

Spoken

Richard Burbage

Featured

Male

Spoken

Francis Bacon

Featured

Male

Spoken

Francis Walsingham

Featured

Male

Spoken

Earl of Derby

Featured

Male

Spoken

Walter Fitch

Featured

Male

Spoken

A Minstrel With A Beautiful Voice

Featured

Either Gender

Spoken, Treble/Boy Soprano

Lady Lettice

Featured

Female

Spoken

Lord Burleigh

Featured

Male

Spoken

Songs

Sorry, we currently do not have content for this section.

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.

Videos

Quizzes

Sorry! We do not currently have quizzes for this guide.

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Quote Analysis

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Guide Written By: