Exit, Pursued by Bear: Shakespeare's Escape Adventure

Exit, Pursued by Bear

Shakespeare's Escape Adventure

Start

New Guy at The Globe

Henry Condell's first day as prompter for the Lord Chamberlain's Men could not be going worse. Barely through the Globe Theatre's backstage door, the company's lead actor Richard Burbage corners him *script pages waving furiously* "You besmirched wretch! You leaked Will's newest work, didn't you?" Burbage bellows, spittle flying. Henry trembles, his dreams of working alongside the legendary Shakespeare already crashing down upon this unfair accusation. He must clear his name, but how?

Play as Henry Condell and navigate Shakespeare's London to reveal the culprit, lest ye be fired on your first day ...or worse, thrown into the Tower of London for your crimes against Britan's greatest playwrite. But beware, not all who you meet are trustworthy. While the Bard of Avon's fame has endowed him with many friends, he has also acquired many foes.

The Globe Theatre

Click around to explore Shakespeare's theatre

Answer corretly for your backstag pass.

Who are the groundlings?

a. Young Actors

b. Spectators in the yard

c. Children in the audience

d. Spectators in the first gallery

Shakespeare's London

Boar's Head Inn

Click around to explore the thespians' favorite tavern

Answer correctly to return to the map.

Who is the Master of Revels?

a. an employee of the Queen who censors treason from plays

b. member of the troupe who ensures the plays are fun

c. the director of the plays

d. William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's London

You wish to enter the enemy camp?

What language does Shakespeare use?

a. Olde English

b. Middle English

c. Early Modern English

d. Post Modern English

The Black Friar Theatre

Click around the to explore Shakespeare's competitor

Shakespeare's London

What's the password?

What is the name of Shakespeare's theatre?

a. The Theatre

b. The Globe

c. The Red Lion

d. The Rose

The Bear Garden

Click around the arena to search for clues

When Hamlet sailed upon the stage, What number marks this watery page?

When Hamlet sailed upon the stage, What number marks this watery page?

When Hamlet sailed upon the stage, What number marks this watery page?

When Hamlet sailed upon the stage, What number marks this watery page?

When Hamlet sailed upon the stage, What number marks this watery page?

Shakespeare's London

The Road to Stratford...

Which law were actors allowed to break on stage?

a. The Highway Act

b. The Poor Law Act

c. The Act of Supremacy

d. Sumptuary Laws

Stratford Upon Avon

Click around to explore Shakespeare's home town

Realm of the Fairies

Click around to explore this literary fantasy.

Answer the question to enter Shakespeare's childhood home.

What does the forest symbolize in Shakespeare's plays?

a. truth & freedom

b. growth & prosperity

c. power & magic

d. darkness & abamdonment

You must go to Holy Trinity Church.

What is NOT one of Shakespeare's fathers jobs?

a. Mayor of Stratford

b. glove maker

c. lawyer

d. realestate businessman

Make it to the church on time!

What is NOT one of Shakespeare's fathers jobs?

a. Mayor of Stratford

b. glove maker

c. lawyer

d. realestate businessman

Answer correctly to enter the church.

What school did Shakespeare attend?

a. Stratford Grammar School

b. Stratford Academy for Boys

c. University of Oxford in London

d. Harrow Boarding School

Shakespeare's London

Hampton Court

Click the palace to look for clues inside.

Shakespeare's London

The Tower of London

Click around your sell and find clues to escape

Shakespeare's London

Answer the question to visit Shakespeare's London home.

What is iambic pentameter?

a. A poetic rhythm with 4 pairs of stressed then unstressed syllables.

b. A poetic rhythm with 3 sets of 2 unstressed syllables and 1 stressed syllable

c. A poetic rhythm with 5 sets of 2 stressed syllables and 1 unstressed syllable

d. A poetic rhythm with 5 pairs of unstressed then stressed syllables

Shakespeare's London

Hampton Court

Click the palace to look for clues inside.

Find Shakespeare

Beatrice traded barbs so clever, With Benedick on this raised level ever. Whether castle's lordly chambers staged, Or humble cottage walls outraged. This second-story set the scene, For Shakespeare's talents maxim-gleaned.

Pillars

The Yard

Galleries

Tiring House

Discovery Space

Lord's Room

Trap Door

The Heavens

Balcony

The Globe Theatre

Click around to explore Shakespeare's theatre

Epilogue

And so our merry tale draws to a close, the curtain falling on an adventure most theatrical! Though the stage lights dim, young Henry Condell's story has merely begun.For true to the Bard's prophetic words, Henry Condell did indeed work with Shakespeare's company for decades to come. Yet Condell's greatest legacy was securing Shakespeare's genius for all posterity. After years of faithful service, it was Condell, along with his friend John Heminges, who ensured the Bard's unmatched plays and poems would never be lost to oblivion's cruel embrace. Through their tireless collection and reverent curation, Condell and Heminges gathered the scattered works into one comprehensive anthology - the legendary First Folio published in 1623. Without this Labor of devotion, masterpieces like Macbeth and The Tempest may have faded from human reckoning. We raise a final toast to you, Henry Condell - prompter, player, scholar and above all, true champion of one of England's brightest artistic lights. For all the world is indeed a stage, and you most certainly played your part in ensuring that glorious music would never be silenced. Well done, good and faithful knight of the Shakespearean realm!

Entry phrase

Question

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Stratford Grammar School

The Galleries

--Middle tier of roofed galleries; rows of wooden seats; roof provided shelter from bad weather; accessed from a back corridor A groundling was a person who was poor in the 17th century and could not pay to be able to sit on one of the three levels of the theatre. They payed one penny, so that they could stand in "the pit", also called "the yard", just below the stage to watch the play. Standing in the pit was uncomfortable, and people were usually packed in tightly. It always smelled very bad, and you had to hold onto your wallet because there was pick-pockets everywere.

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth I

Judith, Henry, you are pardoned for liberating that tortured bear, and shall face no consequences. The cruel sport of bear-baiting, an affront to nature, humanity and compassion, is hereby criminalized throughout my realm!These intimate sonnets exonerate the imprisoned Emilia Bassano from the slanderous claim that she, not your father, penned such transcendent verses - only the bard's quill could achieve such splendor. Emilia shall be released from the tower at once! And as recompense for this injustice, I shall become Emilia's royal patron, supporting her own poetic talents. Furthermore, that duplicitous scholar Francis Bacon must answer for his wrongs towards Mistress Bassano in falsely implicating her. Yet one mystery remains - the question of who revealed the contents of Shakespeare's latest masterpiece... I believe I have been invited to this new mystery play. Ready yourselves, for this evening we make imperial procession to the Globe. There, perhaps we can at last unravel the mystery of this betryal.

The Discovery Space

--Named "the pavilion," "the inner below" or "the study". Either a space recessed into the back wall and covered by a curtain or jutting into the stage and covered with three curtains. It served as a place to indicate locale or to introduce a surprise turn of events.

Tour the Whole House

Faerie Queen Titania

"Mortal, dost thou seek to unravel the mysteries surrounding the dream-weaver poet whose whimsied fancies gave first breath to my woodland subjects and myself? Then tarry not just within these earthly Stratford boundaries where his infant cries first pierced the mortal plane. Nay, let thine inquisitive footsteps wander further through the verdant hillocks and riverbanks that cradled the Bard's youthful awakenings. Only by treading the very paths, swards, and thickets that his gaze fell upon can one truly grasp the eternal glory his soul translated into immortal verseplay. Each gnarled oak, each babbling brook, each bramble-snagged sheep's coat fired the inspiration for worlds evermore. Spread thy peregrination wide through Stratford's comely surroundings, and perhaps the seeds of poetic enlightenment may take celestial bloom within thy own mortal breast. The sumptuous mysteries await thy noble quest - if thou hast the fortitude to seek!"

Costumes

The theatre only commissioned one new costume per show.

* Sumptuary Laws made it illegal for an actor to wear costumes outside of the playhouse. (So of course they did it anyway)*Actors were considered dangerous: They were trained to blend into any class in society, skilled in dance to attend court events undetected, expert swordsmen for stage combat. *Remember only men acted on the Elizabethan stage. Specially talented men took on the roles of strong women and local choir boys guest starred as ingenues hoping to take on an apprenticeship.

Costumes communicated a character's class and peronality to help further convey each character to the audience. To maintain this visual literacy (and because new costumes were expensive) all characters were costumed in "modern" 1590's-1600's English clothing regardless of the setting of the play.

The Pit - The Yard

--Area located around the stage; no seating, standing room only; filled with commoners called "groundlings", who paid one penny to watch play; cheapest part of theater; structure projected halfway into the "yard"

Judith Shakespeare

"Henry, you clever rogue! That bit of lock trickery was genius - this beauty's finally free as she should be. *Her face beams with gratitude and excitement.* With no steel and stone to cage her there, just endless woodlands to roam as nature intended. * As she pulls a token secured around the bear's neck, her expression turns serious. The baubble reads 'BRAVE' * Henry, we must keep a watchful eye. The Queen's guardsmen will show no mercy for our theivery. Join me in returning her to Arden's untamed groves, but be cautious every step. One misstep and it's the Tower's dank cells for us both."

BRAVE

Sonnet 130

My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips’ red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damasked, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound. I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground. And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare

Sonnet Synopsis: The poet defends his love of a mistress who does not meet the conventional standard of beauty by claiming that her dark eyes and hair (and, perhaps, dark skin) are the new standard. The old version of beauty—blond hair and light skin—are so readily counterfeited that beauty in that form is no longer trusted. Many scholars believe the "Dark Lady" in the sonnet is Emilia Lanier-Bassano. Sonnet 130 is one of 25 poems Shakespeare writes immortalizing his love of her genuine beauty.

The Pillars

--The ' Herculean ' pillars of the original Globe Theatre were made of huge, single tree trunks which were drilled through the centre to eliminate warping of the wood. They were then painted to give a marble appearance emulating the Roman and Greek classic styles. Actors used the pillars as set pieces to hide behind or climb. Shakespeare refrences the pillars as "the legs of the great globe."

Trap Door

--Locate on the apron-stage and used for dramatic entrances/exits in the plays, the trap door is large enough to hold actors below; often called "hell"; Globe theater had two on the outer stage, one on the inner stage; Also used for special effects (sounds)

Judith Shakespeare

"There, you see? This perfume bottle engraved with Emilia's very name upon the glass! And those amourous verses unmistakably penned in my father's own hand, praising the 'Dark Lady' who was undoubtedly his muse and lover for those intimate sonnets. Why would a brilliant poet like Mistress Bassano author plays of passion devoted to herself? For what vain purpose could a woman writing of feminine wiles and beauties address them back to her own looking glass? It defies all logic and dismantles Bacon's lies that Emilia transcribed father's works. He claims Emilia as the secret hand transcribing all of Shakespeare's works through some farcical female guise. Bah, this sonnet cycle and perfumed gift demolish Bacon's envious falsehoods. For what woman scrivening as a smokescreen would accept tokens of desire from the very man she was meant to be masquerading as? No, these here are the keepsakes preserving my father's legacy as the singular bard his talents proved. And with them, we have all we require to ultimately exonerate the good Emilia Bassano from Bacon's spiteful machinations against her feminist voice. Justice shall out!"

About the Tavern

A favorite post-show spot of England's acting troupes, the Boar's Head Inn & Tavern made its way into Shakespeare's plays. The Boar's Head Tavern is featured in historical plays by Shakespeare, particularly Henry IV, Part 1, as a favourite resort of the fictional character Falstaff and his friends in the early 15th century. The landlady is Mistress Quickly. It was the subject of essays by Oliver Goldsmith and Washington Irving. Though there is no evidence of a Boar's Head inn existing at the time the play is set, Shakespeare was referring to a real inn that existed in his own day. Established before 1537, but destroyed in 1666 in the Great Fire of London, it was soon rebuilt and continued operation until some point in the late 18th century, when the building was used by retail outlets. What remained of the building was demolished in 1831. The boar's head sign was kept, and is now installed in the Shakespeare's Globe theatre.

Christopher Marlowe

"What's this I hear about Shakespeare's pitiful scribblings being purloined before the ink had a chance to dry? And dolts dare accuse me, the immortal Marlowe, as the odious culprit? Ha! As if I'd sully my quill by so much as glancing upon that provincial upstart's drivel. The man's a talentless hack who has Hah! merely been fortunate enough to have the Earl of Oxford's literary patronage gift a veneer of credibility to his dung-baked fancies. No, no, the inestimable works which will echo through eternity's halls are spun from my feverish genius alone. Why, even now I am bringing forth breathtaking newfound profundities to make Shakespeare's clowns and dumpmaidens appear the vapid and puling scrivenors they are! If you besmirched urchins truly wish to untangle this latest infamy, gaze within the bear-baiting grounds where ruffians and pretenders of all sorts fill their gullets with flagons of filth. Perhaps Edward de Vere's house satirists have some 'insight' into silencing the Philistines who dare challenge the immortal tongue of kit Marlowe!"

Who is Marlowe?

Shakespeare's Sonnets!

Publishing Shakespeare

Anne Hathaway's Cottage

Balcony

--This "chamber" was used as a second level for bedroom and balcony scenes.

The Heavens

---Ceiling over the atage that protected actors from too much rain or sun.It also represented the sky and heavens and was painted blue with golden stars. Actors wo played angels or spirits descended from the hut on top of this "roof" to the main stage. The hut was also used for storage and additional sound effects such as alarm bells, cannon fire and thunder.

From The Description of Cooke-ham

Yet you (great Lady) Mistress of that place, From whose desires did spring this work of grace; Vouchsafe to think upon those pleasures past, As fleeting worldly joys that could not last, Or, as dim shadows of celestial pleasures, Which are desired above all earthly treasures.

Derbyite theory of Shakespeare authorship

William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby

"Shakespeare's newest play leaked? Pah! Ye mangy louts besmirch mine honor with such accusations. As if the Earl of Derby himself would stoop to peddling that raucous commoner's penny scribblings without his leave! 'Tis true, some whispers still persist that I am the true hand behind the plays published as 'Shakespeare.' What fools they be! How could a nobleman of my philosophical and scholarly pursuits find the time amidst estate duties to also pen such fanciful theatrical baubles? Nay, I'll brook no more such heathered slanders against my person. If ye sorely need disproof of these malignant lies, seek out Marlowe at his Black Friar Theatre. That unstable, opium-addled wretch of a poet has ever railed against the 'upstart crow' usurping the literary throne he believes his owed birthright. Mark his fevered rantings well if ye wish to absolve me of guilt. For whilst Marlowe spits venom at Shakespeare's perceived larceny, I maintain my sterling repute...along with healthy stores of brewers' finest ale to quench the afternoon!"

The Pillars

--The ' Herculean ' pillars of the original Globe Theatre were made of huge, single tree trunks which were drilled through the centre to eliminate warping of the wood. They were then painted to give a marble appearance emulating the Roman and Greek classic styles. Actors used the pillars as set pieces to hide behind or climb. Shakespeare refrences the pillars as "the legs of the great globe."

Sir Walter Raleigh

But ere I admonish you too sternly, there are graver matters afoot in this fair city. Have you not heard the rumblings about that immortal bard who scripted such glories as Hamlet and Lear? Why, there is a vile injustice being perpetrated! They have imprisoned the brilliant poetess Emilia Bassano under the mistaken assertion that she is the true Swan of Avon!

Mary Arden Shakespeare

"When I was but a young maiden in the village of Wilmcote in the 1540s, cherished by my father Richard Arden above all my eight sisters, I could scarcely have fathomed the extraordinary life that awaited me. To be granted the rare privilege of an education, to be named an executor of my father's esteemed estate in Wilmcote and inherit the prized Forest of Arden lands when he passed in 1556 - these remarkable fortunes elevated my status beyond what was conceived possible for a woman of my time. Yet, the greatest gift bestowed upon me was the fruit of my union with John Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon between 1556 and 1558 - our son William, born in 1564. From the moment he uttered his first words in our home on Henley Street, I knew a brilliant mind burned within him. As he grew in the streets of Stratford, his insatiable curiosity and unparalleled wit dazzled all who crossed his path. The verses he spun from his quill were like finely spun gold. Though I had been deemed fortunate by the uncaring hands of fate, 'twas I who was truly blessed to behold my son's genius blaze forth from our humble town, illuminating not just Stratford, but the entire world with his radiant talents. This is a mother's greatest pride and legacy."

Shakespeare's Early Life

Baconian Theory of Authorship

The Baconian theory posits that the philosopher Francis Bacon secretly wrote the works attributed to William Shakespeare. However, this theory is widely rejected by scholars for several reasons: Lack of direct evidence: There is no credible historical evidence that Bacon wrote or claimed authorship of the Shakespeare canon. The theory relies heavily on alleged ciphers and codes within the texts, which scholars consider unconvincing. Biographical inconsistencies: Shakespeare's life and background as an actor and playwright in London are well-documented, while Bacon had no known connections to the theater world. Stylistic differences: The plays exhibit a deep knowledge of the theater and dramatic craft, while Bacon's prose is predominantly philosophical and scholarly in nature. Contemporary references: Shakespeare's contemporaries, including Ben Jonson and other writers, made numerous references to him as the author of the plays, with no hint of an alternate author. Manuscript evidence: Several literary manuscripts from the period, including those of Shakespeare's colleagues, confirm his authorship and make no mention of Bacon. While the Baconian theory has captured the imagination of some, the overwhelming scholarly consensus supports Shakespeare's authorship based on the wealth of historical, biographical, and textual evidence. The Baconian theory lacks substantial proof and fails to provide a compelling reason to overturn centuries of Shakespeare scholarship.

The Tiring House

--Dressing and storage rooms. Actors rested here between scenes and changed into lavish costumes. All large props were stored here. The doors to the tiring house also served as the actors' main entrance and exits.

Royal Shakespeare Company. (2016). The Tempest: The Royal Shakespeare Company. Www.youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F55PPOg49zw&ab_channel=MarqueeTV. Cast: Jonathan Broadbent - Antonio Joe Dixon - Caliban Daniel Easton - Ferdinand Caleb Frederick - Spirit James Hayes - Stephano Matthew McPherson - Francisco Joseph Mydell - Gonzalo Mark Quartley - Ariel Darren Raymond - Boatswain Simon Russell Beale - Prospero Joe Shire - Master of the Ship Oliver Towse - Adrian Simon Trinder - Trinculo James Tucker - Alonso Tom Turner - Sebastian Alison Arnopp - Spirit Laura Cairns - Spirit Elly Condron - Iris Sarah Kameela Impey - Spirit Jenny Rainsford - Miranda.

Prompt Book

As the prompt keeper, Henry's role is to manage the troupe's scripts. The prompt keeper partners with the playwrite to send the original manuscript to the Master of the Revels. The Master of the Revels censors the play to clear it of treason and sends back an authoized copy. The prompt keeper transcribes the authorized copy into three copies: the pormpt book, and 2 large scrolls to be cut up into actors' sides or lines. The prompt keeper keeps the scripts organized and curated in the theatre. This library is important for integrating new troupe members into plays and transcribing plays into "quarto's" (souvenier scripts sold in the giftshop).

1. When the Globe burned down in 1613, Henry Condell bravely ran to the prompt room and saved as many of Shakespeare's scripts as he could. 2. Some unauthorized quarto's were published by law students who used secretarial skills to write down the play as it was happening.

British East India Trading Company

The British East India trading Company was formed by a group of merchants under Queen Elizabeth I in 1600. In 1607, the third voyage of the recently formed East India Company left England; it would become the first to reach mainland India. Along the way, two vessels anchored off Sierra Leone and documentary evidence (now lost) suggests that English sailors there performed Shakespeare’s Hamlet for West African dignitaries. Although unverifiable, the performance offers a reminder of a seldom-discussed aspect of maritime history: shipboard theatricals.

William Shakespeare

Ha! What merry madness is this that the famed Bard of Avon has become embroiled in some fanciful conspiracy? 'Tis a dramatist's dream to weave such tangled plots, but in this case truth needs less embellishment than fiction! Look ye to the very words upon these pages - could any mortal soul but my fertile quill have conceived such richly turned phrases? The searing insights into the human condition that penetrate so piercingly? Pish, even that soaring wordsmith Emilia Bassano could never match the dazzling heights to which my Muse soars! But soft, what guile is this? You think, perchance, that I was not the architect behind this scandal's revelations? Ha! Then let me disabuse you of such notions. 'Twas I who leaked those scripts to drum up fervor for our newest production! A wondrous merging of players is nigh, as my Lord Chamberlain's Men shall join in common cause with those daring rascals, the Admiral's Company. And for such an illustrious inaugural collaboration, we require a venue to match its ambitious scope - which is why we shall premiere our new spectacle at that lavish indoor play house, the Blackfriars! Aye, Master Marlowe and his canny self did well to stir such controversy in service of advertising our daring marriage of theatric arts. For when our mighty Stage Mashcapper is revealed, all shall bear witness to the glory of its eye-dazzling feats enacted larger than mere life itself!

Manuscript for "The Tempest"

My troth! This scattered script before us matches the story the "New Play" poster at the Black Friar teased - a blazoned sun, a storm-tossed ship upon the brine. Yet here the newfound title plainly reads The Tempest. Could this be the much-ballyhooed masterpiece that obscure playbill advertised? The conclusion to our pursuit is nigh!

About Queen Elizabeth I

The Lord's Room

--Gallery above the stage wall for rich, upper class and nobility; considered the best seats even though the view was not good (view of actors from the back); cushioned seats, cost of 5 pence

King James I

King James I offered much patronage and support to the theatre, including to Shakespeare. As a mark of his support, in 1603 Shakespeare’s company became known as The King’s Men. They performed eight plays at court that winter. James was a superstitious and paranoid king who greatly feared the art of witchcraft. In 1597 he wrote a political and theological publication on the subject called Daemonologie that justified the persecution of witches in society under the rule of canonical law. In 1605 a group of Jesuit priests attempted to blow up parliament and take King James’ life. This is known as the ‘Gunpowder Plot’. It is interesting that Shakespeare performed Macbeth the following year, a play that warns of the consequences of murdering a king (and features witches).

When Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, James the 6th of Scotland became King and was known thereafter as James the 1st of England. His reign is known as the Jacobean era. King James I had been King James VI of Scotland for 37 years before he succeeded to the English throne. Both James’ parents were assassinated years earlier and he brought a lot of the personal fear and anxiety he suffered into the court and his governing of England.

Shakespeare sets his play, As You Like It in the Forest of Arden as homage to his mother. Symbolically, Shakespeare uses the forest as a lawless place, where characters are free from societal pressures. The forest removes inhibitions and reveals the true self. Shakespeare uses this symbol in As You Like It, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest and The Winter's Tale..

Shakespeare shapes modern fairytales.

Edward de Vere

Oxfordian Authorship Theory

"You dare insinuate my hand was behind leaking that gull Shakespeare's pitiful newmummer show? Ah, such accusations sting less than the bear's toothless gums upon these grounds. 'Tis true, some enlightened minds suspect I am the reclusive genius operating behind the Stratford Clunch's stagey mask. What fevered flattery, to be considered the immortal bard haunting those folios of actors' verbiage! But nay, I am an unsheathed satirist content to flay pomposity with truth's bared quill. Grand theatrical arcs are for bumpkin admirers of that louche strawman's craft, not philosophers of de Vere's discerninginsight. If you must pursue this mystery's untangled threads further, perhaps gain audience with my sometime-patron Raleigh at the Queen's Hampton Court. That snake's forked tongue has ever flitted rumors that his rival Bacon secretly transcribes Shakespeare's works from some shadowed inglenook. But I warn - many within those palace walls bear cozening smiles whilst craving a scandal to discredit their intellectual betters. Tread wary, lest your cofmbuskenry earn you the quarrel's executioner scaffold instead of its truth, sirrah!"

History of Theatre (not Shakespeare)

The Dark Lady

Emilia Lanier-Bassano

"Dear Friends, you must believe I had no part in that dreadful leak of Master Shakespeare's fresh writings. Though some have theorized my mind may flow through his published words, I would never betray the noble poet so. Nay, I find myself in this tower's cold embrace due to the bitter jealousies of Francis Bacon. He cannot abide a woman's voice ringing out in published verse. Seek audience with our just Queen in the gardens at Hampton court, I implore you. Her wisdom may be the key to unlocking these unjust shackles and righting Bacon's envious wrongs. But first to escape this God Forsaken-tower: The Bard's urgent warning holds more than just a threat. Study the scrambled stones to find your path to freedom's breath."

Shakespeare's Grave

We must don disguises.

Stays

Shift

Dress

Stockings

Petticoat

Shoes

Bum Roll

Judith Shakespeare

Henry! Thank goodness you're here. I'm trying to free this poor bear from its wretched cage before those brutes return to make more sport of tormenting it. But it's locked. *She yanks at the lock in frustration* Bloody Hell! *She collapses in exasperation, her hands still clutching the lock* This noble creature deserves freedom so are you going to stand there with your mouth agape or lend a hand getting this damnable lock undone?

Help Judith Free the Bear?

Yes?

No?

Richard Burbage (1568-1619) was the leading actor in the Lord Chamberlain's - King's Men, playing the dramatic leads, including Richard III, Hamlet, Lear and Othello. He may have begun his career as early as 1584; ten years later he rivalled Edward Alleyn as the greatest English tragedian. He continued to perform until his death* in 1619. The son of James Burbage*, he first appears in the records of a dispute* involving his father's playhouse, the Theatre. He inherited the Blackfriars theatre, and with his brother Cuthbert owned a half interest in the Globe. Although he did not achieve the financial success of Shakespeare or Alleyn, Richard did manage to leave his heirs a modest estate of 300 pounds.

Richard Burbage

Sir Francis Bacon

"You insolent gnats pursue me about some nonsensical leak of the bumbling Stratford clown's new scribbles? Pah! While I admittedly wished I had been the one to sow such distracting chaos, robbing that coddled rustic of his unearned accolades, alas, I had no hand in this latest scandal. No, my present machinations involve a much more...pragmatic attack on Shakespeare's perpetually overinflated mystique and grating ubiquity. Did you think it was mere coincidence that his impudent darling Emilia Bassano finds herself confined in the Tower's dungeons? That shrill-tongued woman's writings represented the perfect bait with which to ensare the Bard's own indecorous affairs and rumored amatory affections. We shall uncover how deeply Shakespeare's quill bathes in Emilia's cloying feminist inks before discarding them both to the unavoidable tides of public censure! Oh, the ceaseless rumors that my own learned hand is the genius lurking behind that thick amphitheater's poetry and philosophy? Baseless conjectures all! I am an instructor of nature's truths, not some halfwit peddler of stagesmoke and romances for the rabble's amusements!"

Sir Walter Raleigh

strokes his beard, deep in thought Your impetuous act in liberating that poor bear from the baiting pit was one of grievous criminality by the letter of English law. And yet...and yet, I cannot find it in my soul to wholly condemn you. For you have reminded me of the profound indigenous beliefs surrounding that noble creature. I met a Native American man by the name of Manteo from the Croatan people of the New World. He told me of their spiritual reverence for the bear. To them, it is no mere beast, but an ancestor, a sacred teacher and warrior imbued with ancient wisdom. Manteo shared with me that the bear is a potent totem representing strength, courage and connection to the Great Spirit. So while you may have broken the laws of the English Crown, your actions honored these spiritual philosophies. I can not rebuke you. In the name of fostering greater understanding across cultures, you have my endorsement for an audience with Queen Elizabeth to seek pardon for this transgression. For you have championed the reverence the First Peoples hold for our ursine brethren. Perhaps we shall abolish our cruel baiting sport.