In Search of Shakespeare: Story, Cast and Series Facts

Story and premise

A four part series exploring the life of the world's greatest and most famous writer. Presenter-led, mixing travel, adventure, live action interviews and specially shot documentary and live action sequences with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

A History series - it focuses not on the plays, but on the history and sets the life of the poet in the extraordinary times in which he lived. We are introduced to the dark world of Queen Elizabeth's police state - a time of surveillance, militarism and foreign wars. We are reminded that Shakespeare lived through the Spanish Armada, the Gunpowder Plot, the colonisation of the New World and the beginnings of British power in America.

But most importantly Shakespeare also lived through England's Cultural Revolution: an enforced split with the old medieval English spirit world which was to lead the English people into a brave new Protestant future. A split which defined Shakespeare's life -and our modern world.

Series details

• Title: In Search of Shakespeare
• Format: Documentary
• Language: English
• Genres: History
• Premiere date: 2005-11-14
• Final broadcast date listed: 2005-12-05
• Status in TVmaze: Ended
• Network listed by TVmaze: BBC Two
• Network country: United Kingdom
• Typical episode runtime: 60 minutes
• TVMaze ID: 24217
• IMDb ID: tt0398492
• TVDB ID: 79277

Cast and credited roles

• Michael Wood — Presenter

Seasons in the TVmaze catalogue

• Season 1: premiered 2005-11-14; final listed air date 2005-12-05; episode order: 4.

Source and licence

Adapted from In Search of Shakespeare on TVmaze. The synopsis is reproduced as plain text; catalogue facts, cast and season records are selected and reformatted. This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, following the TVmaze API licence. Network and web-channel credits identify the service listed in this source; they do not establish current streaming availability.