A Rose by Any Other Name at Alma Tavern & Theatre

About

Following a full house at the Cheltenham Heritage Days, and interest from a number of venues, there will be a tour of A Rose by Any Other Name, written by local playwright Lou Beckett. In 2016, a young couple's love story takes a dramatic turn as they passionately debate the authorship of Shakespeare's works. Experience a captivating journey where personal conflicts intertwine with literary history.
When a literary journalist questions the authorship of the Shakespeare plays, she finds herself facing a wave of hostility from her boss, her boyfriend, and a Shakespearian scholar. And when she has the temerity to suggest a woman, Mary Sydney, might have contributed to the plays, the Twittersphere lights up.
The characters in A Rose by Any Other Name? explore the controversy surrounding the Shakespeare authorship question. The question has spawned a vast body of literature, and conspiracy theories abound. Sir Mark Rylance, previous Artistic Director of the Globe and Sir Derek Jacobi are amongst those who firmly believe Shakespeare did not write the plays. A respected US Supreme Court Judge, John Paul Stevens, using his evidentiary skills to review the literature, concluded in an informal conversation 'Of course it's not the guy from Stratford'.
There is a long list of esteemed individuals, and a majority of scholars, who firmly believe Shakespeare wrote the plays. Come and be part of the debate!