Presented in collaboration with Dr Anjna Chouhan of Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust

2023 marks the 400th Anniversary of the very first time Shakespeare's plays were printed as a 'collected work'; without it we would never have Macbeth, Twelfth Night, The Tempest or 15 others. 

The First Folio was a gargantuan undertaking at a time when playwrights' works could simply disappear and the printing of folios was only considered for special, philosophical works. Only 750 copies of the Folio were printed, of which about 220 are known to survive. The most recent one sold for £2m in July 2022.

The evening, devised and written by Dr Chouhan and GSC's Co-Founder Matt Pinches, will explore the origins of the First Folio, who created it and why. We'll also delve into the differences between Quarto and Folio versions of specific plays, their changes in titles and what the legacy of the Folio itself has been. Presented by Matt, the evening will also feature live readings from actors.

Join us for a special celebration of this landmark anniversary.

7.30pm