Shakespeare and Friends is a friendly discussion group which considers the plays and other works of Shakespeare and his contemporaries.

English theatre in Elizabethan and Jacobean times saw one of history's greatest ever explosions of creative talent. William Shakespeare, the giant of world literature, was far from alone. There were many others, from Thomas Kyd and Christopher Marlowe, who broke the classical mould and blazed the trail for Shakespeare, to Thomas Middleton and John Fletcher, whose plays prefigure the more modern drama of the Restoration.

During Shakespeare's working lifetime more than 2000 plays were written, performed and published, by at least 40 different playwrights. Many, perhaps most, of the writers were known to one other as friends, collaborators and rivals (and sometimes enemies), and some appeared as actors in their own and one another’s plays. The group explores a variety of plays by these brilliant writers. Nor are the discussions confined to the drama. Essayists like Bacon and poets like Spencer also fall within the scope of what is discussed.

The agenda for the coming months is agreed in advance. Every other meeting a play is discussed, while the alternate meetings consider a topic of interest related to the literary events of the period.

We would welcome enquiries from interested members. If you would like more information, Bath u3a members can contact the Group Convenor via the Enquiry link at the top of this page. Non-members should contact the Groups Advisers for more information.