An Evening with Will Tosh at Waterstones Nottingham

Join us for an evening with Will Tosh, the Head of Research at Shakespeare’s Globe to celebrate the release of Straight Acting.

Was Shakespeare gay? The answer is both simpler and more complex than you might think . . .

Shakespeare's work was profoundly influenced by the queer culture of his time - much of it totally integrated into mainstream society. From a relentless schooling in Latin and Greek homoeroticism, to a less formal education on the streets and in smoky taverns, from the gender-bending of the early comedies to the astonishingly queer literary scene that nurtured Shakespeare's sonnets, this is a story of artistic development and of personal crisis.

Straight Acting is a surprising portrait of Shakespeare's queer lives - his own and those in his plays and poems. It is a journey back in time and through Shakespeare's England, revealing a culture that both endorsed and supressed same-sex desire. It is a call to stop making Shakespeare act straight and to recognise how queerness powerfully shaped the life and career of the world's most famous playwright.

Will will talk about his new book before answering your questions and signing copies of Straight Acting.

Event Venue

Waterstones, 1-5 Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham, United Kingdom