Hagtale: a Macbeth origin story

Hagtale by Sally O'Reilly consists of two stories set three hundred years apart. Wulva is a wolf child discovered and brought up by three witches but, as she discovers, the witches have a plan for her future involving the Scottish king, Macbeth. Meanwhile, hundreds of years later Brother Rowan is sent from his monastery to an abandoned monastery in the Scottish Highlands to transcribe the history of Scotland’s kings. It is via the forest that Wulva and Rowan traverse that they meet and connect through time.

Hagtale is one of the many books involving characters or stories from Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. Macbeth (1005-1057) actually ruled Scotland from 1040-1057).

Hag-Seed: The Tempest retold

In Hag-seed Canadian author Margaret Atwood retells the story of Shakespeare's play, The Tempest, as a modern day novel. The novel is part of a series of the retelling of Shakespeare plays to mark 400 years since the death of the British playwright.

Felix had been the artistic director of Makeshiweg Theatre Festival for a number of years. Rehearsals for the current production, The Tempest, were underway when he was unexpectedly fired. Felix did not forget this act of treachery as he retreated to live in an isolated hut in the countryside. His only companion was the ghost of his daughter, Miranda, who had died when she was three.

Years later he became involved with the Fletcher Correctional Players, a literature and theatre group in the local prison which operated for three months each year. This allowed Felix to once again follow his love of directing plays and encourage the inmates to use their talents to create an annual theatre production. When Felix decided to make the fourth production The Tempest he discovered the opportunity to gain revenge for the way he had been treated by colleagues in the past. 

Margaret Atwood appears to enjoy this opportunity to retell Shakespeare's play as a novel providing her with the opportunity to create a collection of humorous characters who not only reenact the play but also help Felix to eventually gain revenge on those who ruined his career many years earlier. Although this is a story of revenge it is also a story of moving on and hope.

Hag-Seed review - Literary Treats

Hag-Seed review - Readers High Tea

Hag-Seed review - The Guardian

Hag-Seed analysis - Art of Smart  

Hag-Seed study guide - Lit Charts 

Shakespeare: the Man who Pays the Rent

When Brendan O'Hea conducted a series of interviews with Dame Judi Dench, he did not initially plan to turn the research into a book. Fortunately he changed his mind and has produced not only Judi Dench's reminiscences about the many Shakespearean plays in which she has performed but also also her thoughts about plays, acting and the theatre.

It is interesting to read an actor's view on roles she has performed and the different interpretations produced depending on who directed the play and in which theatre it was performed. Many of the plays were ones that I was introduced to at school and university so I enjoyed reading the interpretation of someone who has performed the plays for a living. The sections of the book that I also found interesting and entertaining were entitled Play, Company, Fireside Ramblings, Rose Theatre, Failure, Rehearsal, Critics, Shakespeare's Language, Audience, Changing Times and Future of Shakespeare. These provided an introduction to being an actor performing in the theatre.

As the title suggests there is much humour in the recollections as Dame Judy looks back on her many roles as a Shakespearean actor. Illustrations throughout the book are sketches made by Judi Dench.

Hamnet

The works of the playwright, William Shakespeare, have played an important part in English literature since the sixteenth century. Increasingly other works have been written based on his plays and poetry and also about his life - though little information about his life actually exists. There have also been numerous television programs, such as Upstart Crow, based on Shespeare as playwright and relations with his family. A recent film, All is True, also looked at the latter years of Shakepeare's life.

In this work of historical fiction, Hamnet, Maggie O'Farrell tells the story of Shakespeare's family in Stratford-upon-Avon. The main character is Agnes (Anne) who marries the future bard when he is helping his father with his glovemaking business and teaching Latin to village school boys. It is obvious that William's mind is not on either of these jobs. When William and Agnes marry they live in a small building attached to his parents' house. Their lives are therefore intertwined with ther members of William's family, particularly his father who is definitely not easy to live with.

Eventually William goes to London to find suppliers for selling his father's gloves but while there becomes involved with the theatre as an actor and a writer and producer of plays. Meanwhile, back in Stratford-upon-Avon, Agnes looks after the three children - Susanna and twins, Judith and Hamnet. Judith was born a sickly child and Agnes did not want to risk taking her to London to live. From time to time the father visits his family but he is needed in London to supervise the productions that he has written. 

In 1596 the plague returns to London and the theatres are closed. The theatre companies therefore take the opportunity to tour their plays in nearby counties. Meanwhile the plague also comes to Shakespeare's house with tragic consequences. The rest of the novel explores the reactions of family members, particularly the parents, to the loss of a child.

This is a moving novel which provides interesting background as to what life may have been like at the end of sixteenth century England. The novel has now become the basis of a play performed by The Royal Shakespeare Company.

All is True

This film was in cinemas last year but I was not able to see it at the time so I borrowed a copy from my local library. The plot of the film is based on the final years of William Shakespeare's life when he returned to his home at Stratford-upon-Avon after the Globe Theatre was destroyed by fire in London.On his return his relationship with his family members is strained, primarily due to his being an absent husband and father for much of his marriage. Shakespeare is also mourning the death of his only son, Hamnet, some years earlier.

Kenneth Branagh plays William Shakespeare, as well as producing and directing the film. Judi Dench plays Anne Shakespeare. The film was written by Ben Elton who was also responsible for the television series Upstart Crow, a satirical account of the writing of the plays (3 series from 2016).

All is True provides an interesting interpretation to part of the family life of a great, and troubled, playwright.