Major Playwright & Poet

In total, Shakespeare wrote around 37 plays and 150 poems. Each of his plays fit into one of three categories: tragedies (Romeo & Juliet and Othello), comedies (Taming of the Shrew and Twelfth Night), and histories (Henry V, Richard III). Performances of these continue in theatres and across television screens to this very day, and they are a popular choice for drama students.
The Globe Theatre, on London’s Southbank, is a reconstruction of an original theatre that stood close by and was used by Shakespeare for the live performances of his plays. The first theatre burnt down in 1613 after a cannon being used as a special effect misfired and hit the roof.
The current Globe Theatre, which opened in 1997, has retained the popularity of the original, attracting around 1.25 million visitors a year.