1. SHAKESPEARE WAS BORN ON 23 APRIL – THE SAME DAY HE DIED

Sixteenth-century records are patchy, but it is widely believed that Shakespeare was born and died on the 23 April. Every year, people all over the world gather to celebrate the playwright’s birthday – including in his hometown, Stratford-Upon-Avon.

2. SHAKESPEARE WAS AN ACTOR…

Shakespeare was an actor and founding member of The Lord Chamberlain’s Men – the theatre company for which he wrote most of his plays.

3. …AND A POET

Shakespeare was also a poet! In 1609, he published a collection of 154 sonnets – poems about love as well as time, mortality and jealousy. Can you imagine writing that many poems about love?

You can read all 154 sonnets online for free here.

4. HAMLET WAS FIRST PERFORMED 425 YEARS AGO

The first performance of Hamlet was at the Globe Theatre in London in 1600 or 1601 (remember those patchy records). Queen Elizabeth I was in the final years of her reign and the Tudor dynasty was finally coming to an end.

5. HAMLET IS ONE OF THE MOST QUOTED PLAYS IN HISTORY

“To be, or not to be, that is the question” is perhaps the most famous line in all of Shakespeare’s plays. It is spoken by Hamlet during a famous soliloquy (think of a soliloquy like a long speech).

6. HAMLET IS A TRAGEDY (THINK REVENGE GONE WRONG)

Shakespeare’s plays can be roughly split into tragedies, comedies and histories. Like Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth, Hamlet is a tragedy, so don’t expect a happy ending…

7. HAMLET IS SHAKESPEARE’S LONGEST PLAY…

At around 30,000 words, Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play. It takes nearly four hours to perform and actors playing Hamlet must memorise 4000 lines!

This didn’t stop modern playwright Tom Stoppard from writing a 15-minute version in 1976.

8. YOU MIGHT KNOW THE PLOT ALREADY…

Daunted by the plot of Hamlet? You might already know it! The Lion King was partly inspired by Hamlet. Simba (Hamlet) must overthrow his evil uncle Scar (Claudius), who killed his father Mufasa (the King/Ghost).

9. IAN MCKELLEN IS THE OLDEST KNOWN HAMLET

In 2021, Sir Ian McKellen – known for playing Gandalf in Lord of the Rings – became the oldest known actor to take on the role of Hamlet at age 82. He previously played the part 50 years earlier.

10. HAMLET HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY MANY A FAMOUS ACTOR

Actors have lined up to play Hamlet throughout history. Many see it as a pinnacle role in their career. How many of the below do you recognise?

Hamlet Hail to the Thief runs at Aviva Studios from 27 April to 18 May 2025. Find out more information here.