Founded in 1996, the Shakespeare Project of Chicago was created to bring to life the words of William Shakespeare and the world’s other great dramatists; to foster the talents of members of Actors’ Equity Association, the professional union of actors and stage managers; and to present the plays to members of our community for free.

The Reign of King Edward III - April 19-21, 2013
By William Shakespeare and Thomas Kyd

"But that your lips were sacred, my lord/You would profane the holy name of love."

As part of a list of plays deemed “Shakespearean apocrypha”, authorship of Edward III has been questioned for centuries. Shakespeare’s voice, as we have come to know it in his other works, cannot be heard throughout -- nor was the play included in the First Folio of 1623. However, most modern scholars have concluded that it was a collaborative effort between Shakespeare and one of his Elizabethan contemporaries, the most popular guess being Thomas Kyd (author of The Spanish Tragedy). Through this political history play we see Britain’s justification for the Hundred Years’ War, and follow the autocratic Edward III as he defends England against the Scottish king while moving to claim the French throne. As he seeks to possess and conquer first a woman and then a country, oaths and honor are brought into question on both sides.

Performances:

Friday, April 19, 2013 at 7:00PM, The Niles Public Library, 6960 W. Oakton Street, Niles, Illinois. Pre-registration required.
Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 10:00AM, The Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton Street, Chicago, Illinois
Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 2:00PM, The Wilmette Public Library, 1242 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois
Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 2:00PM, The Highland Park Public Library, 494 Laurel Avenue, Highland Park, Illinois

An introduction to the play commences 15 minutes prior to curtain.
Admission is free, seating is limited.