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All About the Sonnets is a heady but light-hearted introduction to Shakespeare's finest but oft neglected poetry. Written with mathematical precision and deep yearning, Sutton examines their meaning as well as explores the mystery of their ownership and publication. The Sonnets, 156 in all, are thought to have been written by Shakespeare during a lay-off from his touring company occasioned by an outbreak of the plague in 1592. They are believed to have been commissioned by an adopted nephew of the queen named Henry Wriothesley, the 3rd Earl of Southhampton, who was the young writer's greatest patron. Most importantly, the sonnets tell a story of admiration, love and betrayal. To what extent the frequently torrid verse reflects the truth is a debate frequently studied by scholars. And the identity of the Dark Lady has become of of literature's greatest unsolved mysteries.
Until now that is because Will "The Sonnet Master" Sutton has cracked the case. He shares his discoveries as much as his passions in All About the Sonnets, a certain crowd-pleaser.
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Will Sutton was born in northern England in 1960. He embarked on a theatrical career in his late teens, specializing in improvisational comedy. He subsequently joined the well-known troupe, The Society of Fools and toured much of the UK and Europe for several years. It was while researching classical foolery that he stumbled across Shakespeare's sonnets. "It happend in a coffee shop in The Netherlands," he reports. "I was astounded by their beauty and mystery but most importantly, by their sad neglect. So on that day I challenged myself to memorize every word of every sonnet and tell their story like a storyteller would. But to have lots of fun with them in the process. That's where my comic skills come in handy. "That was thirteen years ago.
Will enrolled in The Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon to fine tune his knowledge and perfomance. Now the world's acknowledged expert on The Sonnets, Will created a show that is both fun and stimulating. He starts with The Sonnet Circle, in which he stands. From then on it's fun and games with 14-line verse. Audience participation is an integral part of the show, he confesses. " I ask them to put me to the test and, like a magician, I never cease to dazzle them. They try and trick me but they can't because I know the verses as well as I know my own home address."
Now based in Amsterdam, Will performs his show for school audiences, Shakespeare festivals and as a visiting guest artist in universities and performing arts centers. He also presented the show for three weeks at The Gateway Theatre (Queen Margaret University) for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2002. His goal is to convice audiences that Shakespeare is as worthy of their love today as much as he was in his own time. To this end, he clarifies Shakespeare'swords, unifies his purpose and proves that his verse is at least as potent as his finer plays.
"William Sutton has a unique gift and he is passionate about The Sonnets. As he speaks the verses his understanding and feeling is at once evident."
-Mark Relance, Director of Education Shakespeare's Globe, London
"Sutton's whizz through the Sonnets takes the audience on a journey through the pain and euphoria of love, the life of Shakespeare and how and why they were written and subsequently published, and his own personal odyssey with discovering their unique beauty."
-Internatonal Herald Tribune, Paris
"A maverick performance that is both substantive and whimsical."
-Three Weeks, Edinburgh
Please visit Mr. Sutton's website
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Written and performed by: Will Sutton
Home City: Amsterdam
Director: Colin Lewis
Length: Sixty-five minutes without intermission
Followed by thirty minutes audience Q & A
Requirements: A versatile show that can be adapted to any room; basic theatre light and sound capabilities; set, props, cue sheets provided with the show. One technician needed.
Booking information
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