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The Shakespeare players

Peter Ackroyd takes us into the dirt of Shakespeare’s London and gets to grips with the playwright’s genius, writes Illtyd Harrington

NEXT to Shakespeare’s grave in Stratford-upon-Avon – beneath a glass cover – is the parish register.
On one page is the entry of his birth, April 23, 1564. A few pages later is that of his death in the town on April 23, 1616. It was his 53rd birthday and Peter Ackroyd is in exhilarating form.
He releases Shakespeare from sanctity and succeeds in telling with great authority and rich colour the life of our greatest writer.
Shakespeare entered the world five years after Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne. If ever the tectonic plates were moving it was then. Half the population were under 20. The playwright’s father was a glover and a redoubtable local figure reputed to be a secret Roman Catholic.
There were 30 known Catholic families in the town but as the old faith faced growing repression he was not openly accused and remained a solid citizen.
Many believed that his son Will also held on to the forbidden religion. He attended the King’s New School six days a week. Apparently when he was five the Players came to Stratford and he probably saw them.

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