To Be or Not to Be Shakespeare –  

As part of the global programme of events and activities celebrating Shakespeare’s work on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of his death in 2016 the Anglo-Swedish Society of Gothenburg will present ‘To Be or Not to Be Shakespeare‘ .The ‘Not quite a ceilidh’ ensemble will perform ‘What You Will’ a one act reading of a play depicting William Shakespeare’s adventures in his first occupation as a Forest of Arden poacher.

We will take a typical ASS, light-hearted, look at the great authorship debate – did someone called Will Shakespeare write the plays of Shakespeare or did someone else hold the quill? We will have a play reading of ‘What You Will’ a new play by John Chaplin about the 15 year old William Shakespeare and his first meeting with his wife to be Anne Hathaway, and a mysterious connection to a Swedish Princess.

Following the Reading the most likely candidates (including Shakespeare himself) will have the opportunity to put their case before the audience. In the Authorship Conspiracy Bingo game teams supporting each candidate will compete for the authorship of Shakespeare plays – a sort of trial-by-bingo. At last we will discover the truth behind the controversy.

At the annual NQAC nine teams were given alternative candidates to support. The supporting evidence was given in the form of background information on the author and a list of theatrical elements that recur in Shakespeare’s plays. Each alternative author competed against William Shakespeare for the authorship of nine plays via our ancient and proven Anglo-Swedish method of literary analysis known as ‘trial-by-bingo’. This being as good a way as any to discover the true authorship.

WARNING: The intention of the ASS is to enlighten but mostly to entertain. Therefore, a deep knowledge of Shakespeare is in no way an advantage but it would certainly not be a hindrance.

(performed 14 Oct 2016)

but what is the connection to Sweden?