Shakespeare's life

Who was Shakespeare?
What was life like in Stratford-upon-Avon and London when Shakespeare was alive?
How do we know it was him who wrote the plays attributed to him?
And who were his peers and rivals?

Explore the links on the left to find out more about Shakespeare's life and how his plays were performed during his lifetime.

Photo shows The Big Picture - this giant artwork was painted in sections by the public and put together on the wall of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre during RSC Open Day in 2006.