![]() ![]() ![]() On November 8, 1623, the First Folio was entered into The Stationer’s Register-which recorded publishing rights-and went on sale. Roughly 750 copies of the First Folio were printed-and 235 have survived to this day. Shakespeare wasn’t the first playwright to receive the special treatment of a folio edition, though: Ben Jonson published a folio of his own plays in 1616. Plays were typically printed individually in cheaper quarto editions, a small booklet made up of sheets that had been folded twice to yield eight pages. Folios were expensive due to their large size and high quality bindings, so typically, only important texts-usually of a historical, royal, or religious nature-were published in this format. Chris J Ratcliffe/GettyImagesĪ folio was a type of book made by folding paper only once, creating four pages per sheet. Folio describes the book’s physical format. The tome was largely financed by bookseller Edward Blount and it was printed by Isaac Jaggard, who managed the print shop owned by his father, William). They created the book by referring to Shakespeare’s drafts, individually printed editions of his plays, and prompt books (the script of a play along with staging details, such as blocking and sound cues). Two of Shakespeare’s friends, John Heminge and Henry Condell-who were also actors in the King’s Men, the playing company for which the Bard wrote-put together the First Folio as a tribute to their departed friend. Shakespeare had no involvement in the printing of the First Folio because he had died seven years prior, in 1616. Here are 11 facts about the Bard’s momentous First Folio. ![]() The impact of the 1623 book is still felt across the arts and the English language to this day: There are over 1000 adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays-making him the most filmed author in history-and his works contain the first recorded usage of many words. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies, the more than 900-page tome collected together 36 of the Renaissance writer’s plays for the first time. We’ll be running workshops on Decorative Lettering, Portrait painting, and a whole host of other things to spark joy this autumn.This year marks the 400th anniversary of the printing of William Shakespeare’s First Folio, a key moment in literary history. A range of workshops, talks and shows mean that there’s certainly something for everyone. Shakespeare North Playhouse will also be teeming with activity to celebrate the arrival of the Folio. Two men that can bring history to life in front of our very eyes, will be sharing everything that there is to know on the book that started it all, not least the unlikely story of how it came to be. This confluence of history and artistry promises to be an unforgettable journey into the heart of Shakespearean storytelling.’Īlongside the exhibition will be talks from experts Ben Crystal and Stephen Lloyd. ‘As we host this priceless artifact, we are equally thrilled to stage Lauren Gunderson’s production, ‘The Book of Will’, a play that beautifully captures the spirit of collaboration, dedication and friendship that led to the creation of the First Folio. This historic loan represents not only a profound connection to our theatrical heritage, but also a remarkable opportunity for our audiences to engage directly with the very words that have shaped literary history. The British Library cares for five of the 235 First Folios that are known to survive worldwide.Ĭhief Executive of Shakespeare North Playhouse, Melanie Lewis, comments: ‘We are honoured to welcome Shakespeare’s First Folio from the British Library to the Shakespeare North Playhouse as part of their ‘Treasures on Tour’ programme. In addition, a copy of the First Folio on loan from The British Library will be exhibited in our Exhibition Gallery as part of The British Library’s Treasures on Tour programme and as part of our premier exhibition ‘Shakespeare’s First Folio: 400 Years On ’ funded by Knowsley Borough Council. This production documents the tale of the First Folio’s creation and the people and friends of Shakespeare that were vital to achieving this. As part of its European Premier Tour, Lauren Gunderson’s ‘ The Book of Will ’ ( a co-production with Bolton Octagon and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch) will be staged on our Cockpit Theatre. In celebration of this, we will bring to life the story and the history behind the creation of the First Folio. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the First Folio, which is the first collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays, containing 36 out of some 38 Shakespeare plays.Ĭollated and published in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, only 18 of the plays had previously been printed during his lifetime. ![]()
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