Shakespeare’s Globe Theater

The name of the Globe supposedly alludes to the Latin tag totus mundus agit histrionem—all the world plays the actor and there have been many actors who want to play Shakespeare on the London stage to show their acting chops even if they are Hollywood movie stars - a legitimate actor pulls off Shakespeare too!

Following in the steps of such acting luminaries as Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir John Gielgud, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Derek Jacobi, Christopher Plummer and Dame Judi Dench are well known screen stars such as Jude Law, Ralph Fiennes, David Tennent and even Al Pacino to name just a few from over the years who have stepped onto stage to potray some of Shakespeares most famous characters.

This year is no different and it is not only at the home of Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre that the theatre goer gets to enjoy new productions of Shakespeare's work or even get to know Shakespeare himself a little better. Simon Callow is bringing his one-man show Being Shakespeare to the Trafalgar Studios this summer in a piece that goes behind the legend to examine the real man, his life and some of the most famous characters known in literature.

David Tennant perhaps most recognised for his version of Dr Who on the small screen has already tried his hand at Hamlet and this year he is back treading the boards again at Wyndhams Theatre in Much Ado About Nothing along with Catherine Tate. With two such popular actors tickets have been selling fast. Then there is the production of Richard III bought to life by American actor and Oscar winner, Kevin Spacey currently the Artistic Director at the Old Vic. The iconic 192 year old theatre has a rich history of great performances and is one of the best known and best loved theatres in the world, synonymous with the greatest acting talent that Britain has ever produced from Laurence Olivier, Peggy Ashcroft, John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson to Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Albert Finney, and Peter O'Toole.

Another actor known for his potrayal on stage in the role of Hamlet is Ralph Fiennes. This summer he is starring in The Tempest, thought to be the last play ever written by Shakespeare. He will play the role of Prospero directed by Sir Trevor Nunn who is currently Artistic Director at The Theatre Royal, Haymarket but that is not before Trevor Nunn realizes a forty year old dream by at last directing Tom Stoppard’s first masterpiece Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. A verbally scintillating and richly inventive play, Stoppard retells Hamlet through the eyes of two of its minor characters featuring a cast that is led by Samuel Barnett as Rosencrantz, Jamie Parker as Guildenstern and Tim Curry as the Player.

Shakespeare continues to be one of the major influences on British literature and theatre productions around the world, but it is at Shakespeares Globe Theater where you can go back in time to experience London in the 16th century and this year it is in the West End that you can continue to be enthralled by Britain's greatest writer as his plays are brought to life in the 21st Century.