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Greetings Mr. Bartley. Let me begin by saying that if you visit the city of Stratford-upon-Avon in England today, the first thing you’ll probably hear is that I was born in 1564. We don’t actually know the exact day, but we do know that I was baptized on April 26th at Holy Trinity Church. Since baptisms usually happened a few days after birth, tradition has settled on April 23rd — St. George’s Day — as my birthday. A fitting coincidence, since St. George is England’s patron saint and many individuals said during an after my life that Iwould become England’s greatest poet.

Master Shakespeare, could you tell us a little bit more
about YOUR background in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Certainly. I was the son of John Shakespeare, a glove maker and part-time wool dealer who rose to become an alderman in the town, and Mary Arden, who came from a well-off farming family.  My parents gave me a household connected both to trade and to old Warwickshire landowners.

Mr. Shakespeare, may I be so bold as to ask you what irritates you the most?  

What stings is when people decide
I simply sprang from the stage fully formed.
No rough drafts.
No homework.
Just “Ta-da, here’s Hamlet.”
I was not born quoting To be, or not to be”?
When I was twelve,
my most famous line was probably,
“Master, may I please go outside? My hand is cramping.”

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