A new history of women and Stratford-upon-Avon

On 10 August we welcome back Professor Katherine Scheil who will talk to us about how women have helped to shape 'Shakespeare's Stratford' over the last three centuries, and how the town itself galvanized women's intellectual lives and bolstered their sense of independence.

“The charm of Stratford grows upon me the longer I remain,” wrote the poet Mathilde Blind in 1894 about William Shakespeare’s hometown. Around the same time, novelist Marie Corelli remarked that she was “only seeking peace and comfortable surroundings in dear Shakespeare-land in order to finish my new book;” she ended up spending the rest of her life in Stratford. Many of the famous spaces that comprise contemporary Stratford – the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, the gardens at New Place and at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage–owe their foundations to the women who were drawn to Stratford to find meaningful employment, effect political change, and help nurture the growing Shakespeare industry.

Led by Professor Katherine Scheil, University of Minnesota.

The event begins with a thirty minute presentation and will be followed by an open discussion. Please note this is an online event held on Zoom.

All of our Research Conversations are free, but if you are in the position where you are able to support us with a donation, no matter large or small, we would be incredibly grateful. As the independent charity dedicated to sharing Shakespeare's work, life and times with the world, we rely on the support of visitors, event attendees, donors and Friends for 98% of our income to help conserve the priceless Shakespearian heritage in our care.
Thank you for your support.

Listen back: If you were unable to attend our previous virtual Research Conversations, you can catch up on our audio recordings here