College Library  marked  the  400th  anniversary  of  Shakespeare’s  death  with  this exhibition, which  brought together  rare  books,  prints,  drawings  and  other  materials  from  its  extensive holdings  in  English  literature and theatre history to illustrate changing approaches to presenting Shakespeare’s plays over the centuries. 

Items on display outlined the early publication history of the plays and evolving practices in production texts, staging, costume and set design, and the interpretation of characters. Highlights included our copies of the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Folios, an issue of the first edition of Troilus and Cressida printed during Shakespeare’s lifetime, a W.H. Ireland forgery, photographs and wood carvings designed by Edward Gordon Craig  in preparation for the 1912 production of Hamlet at the Moscow Arts Theatre, and a drawing by the actor Antony Sher. 

Curated by Rachel Bond, College Librarian, Dr Stephanie Coane, Deputy Curator of Modern Collections and Madeleine Smith, Assistant Librarian, Eton College