Take a deep breath... that's it... now, imagine yourself on a warm night in Venice: the stars are shining... and a gentle breeze...

Education is a funny thing. It, like many things, swings in and out of favor. Across history, we see the thirst for knowledge and the enervation of intelligence during the Enlightenment; the Victorian era, and the post World War Two period of peace and prosperity.

Today, the story of a feeble King, who vainly attempts to rule his realm while his courtiers indulge in a "Game of Murderous Musical Thrones."

Today, we travel to the Venetian waterways, for a dark comedy in which love, law, and latent anti-semitism swirl together in a morally complex tale that leaves us wondering who the real merchants - and villains - of Venice truly are.

Today we travel into the realm of King John - perhaps one of Uncle Will's lesser-loved historical romps.

Today we dip our toes - or rather, our ears - into the world of unheard words.

Today, as set off on our little literary journey together, I am put in mind of one of the most famous poems of the twentieth century...

C'mere... have you heard... a bit of buzz... the juicy tidbit of tiddle-taddle?

Today, two differing tales of ambition and disillusionment...

Today we are going to explore one of William's bread-and-butter words. A word that has turned up in only three of his plays, but I think it's safe to say that the theme it carries with it is pretty much omnipresent in most of his works in one way or another.