In 1606, Shakespeare was writing for a royal family hungry for new entertainment while the threats of plague, insurrection and rebellion threatened English society. Show more

King James's quest for the union of England and Scotland is not easily resolved. Show more

The impact of the Gunpowder Plot of late 1605 has implications not only for the monarchy and aristocracy but also for the work of contemporary playwrights, including Shakespeare. Show more

An outbreak of the plague threatens the livelihood of William Shakespeare when the theatres are closed. It also looms close to his home in London. Show more

The ferment in the country and King James's insistence on an oath of allegiance brings religious tensions to the fore in 1606. Show more