Shakespeare’s Lost Year

‘Shakespeare’s Lost Year’ refers to his life over two period in seven years as
there were no records exist after the birth of his twins, Hamnet and Judith in
1585 and his apparent arrival on the London theatre scene in 1592.

First period:
i. 1578: Shakespeare left grammar school.
ii. 1582: Shakespeare married to Anna Hathaway in November.

Second period:
i. 1583 and 1585: Baptisms of Shakespeare’s twin children.
ii. 1589: Court documents name William Shakespeare and his parents in a

Over these mysterious seven years,

a lot of theories and mythology has developed and many people have their
favourite version of the story.

By oral tradition, it was reported that

Shakespeare's Shakespeare poached deer from Sir
relationship with Sir Thomas Lucy's estate. He might have
Lucy Thomas. gone into hiding and fled to London in
order to escape punishment.

Shakespeare might He might have been working as an

have been working as assistant schoolmaster in Lancashier
an assistant and may have found work as a horse
schoolmaster and a attendant at London's finer theaters in
horse attendant. the mid-to-late 1580s.

Shakespeare may
He lived in Stratford and has been
also have been living
helping out with the family business.
in Stratford.
Shakespeare and The King’s Man

By the early 1590s, documents show In 1603, King James I took over the
Shakespeare was a managing partner in throne after Queen Elizabeth I died. He
The Chamberlain's Men, an acting loved theatre and was captivated by
company in London Shakespeare's acting troupe.

Although the theater culture in 16th

Considered the most important troupe of
century England was not highly admired
its time, the company changed its name
by people of high rank, some of the
to the King's Men following the crowning
nobility were good patrons of the
of King James I.
performing arts and friends of the actors.

Actor and Playwright

 Shakespeare was involved in many aspects of London’s professional

theatrical world. He was an actor, a playwright and a shareholder in The
King’s Men.

 His plays were performed on professional stages owned by his company:

- First, the Theatre and then The Globe after 1599.
- In 1609, his company begin using its own indoor theatre at Blackfriars.

 His plays were also performed in many other spaces such as the royal
court, the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and the Inns of Court,
public buildings and outdoor spaces in the provinces, and private
households.

 The total number of Shakespeare’s plays varies somewhat between 38

and 40 plays as scholars reassess references to his two lost plays--
Love’s Labor’s Won and Cardenio.