In Love | Shakespeare

While the film is a beloved "love letter to the theater," it is largely historical fiction:

: A theatrical version adapted by Lee Hall is licensed for performance. You can find details and scripts at Concord Theatricals . shakespeare in love

: Portrayed as Will's friend and mentor, Marlowe was actually killed in 1593, roughly the time the film is set. While the film is a beloved "love letter

: The full movie script is available to read on The Internet Movie Script Database (IMSDb). : The full movie script is available to

Set in London in 1593, the story follows Will Shakespeare , who is under pressure to finish a comedy titled Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter . His creative slump ends when he meets Viola de Lesseps, a noblewoman who disguises herself as a man named to audition for his play, as women were legally forbidden from acting. Their forbidden affair becomes the emotional foundation for what ultimately becomes the tragedy Romeo and Juliet . Accessing the Full Text

: Portrayed by Judi Dench (who won an Oscar for the role), her presence at the public theater is a creative liberty, as monarchs typically had plays performed for them at court.