2024 – The Book of Will

Without William Shakespeare, we wouldn’t have literary masterpieces like Romeo and Juliet. But without Henry Condell and John Heminges, we would have lost half of Shakespeare’s plays forever!
After the death of their friend and mentor, the two actors are determined to compile the First Folio and preserve the words that shaped their lives. They’ll just have to borrow, beg, and band together to get it done. Amidst the noise and colour of Elizabethan London, finds an unforgettable true story of love, loss, and laughter, and sheds new light on a man you may think you know.

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First, a bit of history: You may or may not know that William Shakespeare wrote his plays in pieces, never putting all the parts together until the actors were on stage, for fear of someone stealing his work. But who’s to stop people from stealing it after he dies? This is the conundrum faced by the Bard’s buddies in The Book of Will. When a sub-par Hamlet rip-off hits a stage near the Globe Theatre, members of Shakespeare’s acting troupe, the King’s Men, are incensed. To try to put an end to the plagiarism and save Will’s works for the ages, they hatch a plan to put it all down on paper, setting them off on a mad chase to find all the bits and pieces to create the First Folio. A funny, charming play about the battle to save a legacy, offering up excerpts of some of the Bard’s most beloved writing.

Cast

Henry Condell … Jon Darbro
John Heminges … Jason Sharland
Richard Burbage/William Jaggard/Sir Edward Dering … Ewan Paterson
Alice Heminges/Susannah Shakespeare … Georgia Reynolds
Elisabeth Condell/Emilia Bassanio Lanier … Liz Hull
Rebecca Heminges/Anne Hathaway … Nicky Whichelow
Ed Knight/Isaac Jaggard … Tim McQueen
Ben Jonson … Robert Connaughton
Ralph Crane/Barman/Compositor/Francisco … Jeremy Wellwood
Marcus/Boy Hamlet/Crier/Bernardo … Akiwa Cavanagh
Horatio/Barman … Aerlyn O’Brien
Marcellus/Fruit Seller … Rebecca McMahon
Shakespeare Syndicate/Printery Workers … Cast & Crew

The Book of Will

by Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Julie Bray
Produced by Jason Sharland

Performed 19 October – 9 November 2024

Crew

Director … Julie Bray
Producer … Jason Sharland
Production Manager & Assistant Director … Danelle Dobinson
Stage Manager … Tom Glassock
Assistant Stage Manager … Rebecca McMahon
Accent Coach … Dale Murison
Props Coordinator … Danelle Dobinson
Set Design
… Jason Sharland
Lighting Design, Sound & Tech Manager … Aerlyn O’Brien
Costume Coordinators … Kelly Lyonns, Wendy Shead
Hair & Wig Design … Colin Wilkes
Sound Design … Julie Bray