A Waste of Shame: The Mystery of Shakespeare and His Sonnets
Directed by John McKay
TrailerNo community ratings yet on FilmStash · 0 membersOne score per member · Verified member ratings
A mystery in Shakespeare's sonnets is explored.
In 1609, William Shakespeare published a collection of 154 sonnets, creating what is arguably the greatest lyric sequence in English literature - and at the center of this masterpiece lies a mystery that has endured for centuries. What are the identities of “the young man” and “the dark lady” to whom all but two of the sonnets allude? This moving performance brings to life the gritty reality of Shakespeare’s England, bits of the Bard’s plays and poems, and the consummate poet and dramatist himself as it exposes these personages unseen but so keenly felt in Shakespeare’s sonnets and in his life. Rupert Graves, Tom Sturridge, Indira Varma, Anna Chancellor, and Zoë Wanamaker star. Contains mature themes and explicit language. Some content may be objectionable. Produced by the Open University.Read moreLess
In 1609, William Shakespeare published a collection of 154 sonnets, creating what is arguably the greatest lyric sequence in English literature - and at the center of this masterpiece lies a mystery that has endured for centuries. What are the identities of “the young man” and “the dark lady” to whom all but two of the sonnets allude? This moving performance brings to life the gritty reality of Shakespeare’s England, bits of the Bard’s plays and poems, and the consummate poet and dramatist himself as it exposes these personages unseen but so keenly felt in Shakespeare’s sonnets and in his life. Rupert Graves, Tom Sturridge, Indira Varma, Anna Chancellor, and Zoë Wanamaker star. Contains mature themes and explicit language. Some content may be objectionable. Produced by the Open University.
The story
In 1609, William Shakespeare published a collection of 154 sonnets, creating what is arguably the greatest lyric sequence in English literature - and at the center of this masterpiece lies a mystery that has endured for centuries. What are the identities of “the young man” and “the dark lady” to whom all but two of the sonnets allude? This moving performance brings to life the gritty reality of Shakespeare’s England, bits of the Bard’s plays and poems, and the consummate poet and dramatist himself as it exposes these personages unseen but so keenly felt in Shakespeare’s sonnets and in his life. Rupert Graves, Tom Sturridge, Indira Varma, Anna Chancellor, and Zoë Wanamaker star. Contains mature themes and explicit language. Some content may be objectionable. Produced by the Open University.
Watch trailerCast & crew
Rupert GravesWilliam Shakespeare
Tom SturridgeWilliam Herbert
Indira VarmaLucie "The dark lady"
Zoë WanamakerCountess of Pembroke
Anna ChancellorAnne Hathaway
Andrew TiernanBen Jonson
Nicky HensonJohn Shakespeare
Alan WilliamsGeorge Wilkin
Nicholas RoweRichard Burbage
Tom HiddlestonJohn Hall
Tom MisonYoung Blood
Christopher FairbankPhysicianExplore the crew
- Director
- John McKay
- Screenplay
- William Boyd
- Original Music Composer
- Kevin Sargent
- Director of Photography
- Tim Palmer
- Editor
- Anne Sopel