Details

A dark and stormy night. In his garage in Kent, Frank Charlton - a schoolteacher who threw away a promising academic career by daring to question the authorship of the Shakespeare plays - prepares for his daily broadcast. Through his subversive internet show, Frank continues to explore his obsession with the authorship, whilst attempting to dodge the 'helpful' attentions of his nutty neighbour Barry. Today, however, via the dramatic interaction of a lightning storm and the collective unconscious of the world-wide-web, Frank finds himself confronted with the real William Shakespeare… and the real Francis Bacon... then Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford... and finally the real Mary Sidney... Mayhem ensues, as Frank tries to interview each of the four characters from the past - all of whom claim they wrote the plays - whilst his neighbour keeps interrupting and the police arrive investigating a mysterious body. Who is the real author? Can Frank restrain himself from murdering Barry long enough to take this historic opportunity and find out? Or will the police arrest him first? And what does Kirk Douglas have to do with all this?

Cast/Performers

Mark Rylance (Frank Charlton), Alex Hassel (Edward de Vere Earl of Oxford), Colin Hurley (William Shakespeare), Roddy Maude-Roxby (Sir Francis Bacon), Juliet Rylance (Mary Sidney), Sam Parks (Sergeant Trevor Freeman), Sean Foley (Barry Wild)

Creatives/Company

Author: Frank Charlton
Corporate Sponsor: Hentys Corporate
Producer: Chichester Festival Theatre
Director(s): Mark Rylance, Matthew Warchus, Sophie Motley (assistant)
Design(s): Jenny Tiramani, Lorna Heavey (video)
Lighting: Paul Pyant
Sound: Simon Baker
Choreographer: Sian Williams
Music: Claire van Kampen