Elizabeth I and her court visited the Earl of Leicester at Kenilworth Castle in July 1575. The Earl welcomed her with a series of lavish and elaborate entertainments which included banquets, plays and pageants, and water displays and musical fireworks. On 18 July, a water pageant based on the Lady of the Lake took place, […]Continue reading
Shakespeare may have been inspired by the visit of the Moroccan ambassador to Elizabeth I as he created the ‘noble Moor’ in Othello. The Moroccan king’s ambassador, Abd al-Wahid bin Messaoud bin Mohammed al-Annuri, and his party arrived in Dover on this day in 1600. They travelled to the queen’s court in London and stayed […]Continue reading
The earliest recorded performance of Richard II was on 9 December 1595. The play was performed for Sir Robert Cecil at Sir Edward Hoby’s house in Canon Row. On 7 December 1595 Sir Edward Hoby had written to Robert Cecil inviting him to supper and to see a performance of the play: Sir, finding […]Continue reading
The earliest confirmed performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor took place on 4 November 1604 at Whitehall Palace. The play may have also been performed for Elizabeth I at the Garter Feast on 23rd April 1597, and possibly in January 1593 at Windsor castle for Elizabeth I and her court. The Merry Wives […]Continue reading
