What’s in a Name?

Thu Mar 19 2026 at 07:00 pm to 08:30 pm UTC+00:00

Main Hall, Friends' Meeting House | Manchester

The Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society
Publisher/HostThe Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society
What\u2019s in a Name?
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How do we know Shakespeare was Shakespeare?
About this Event

How do we know Shakespeare was Shakespeare? Could a glover’s son who left school at fifteen really be the author behind such masterpieces as Hamlet, King Lear and The Tempest?

Yes! says historian Susan Amussen. She transports readers back to early modern England, to travel the path that carried William Shakespeare from humble origins in Stratford to literary greatness on the London stage. This was a society undergoing rapid change. Grammar schools made education in Latin and Greek available to commoners, while touring players brought the latest dramatic productions to the masses. And in London, a metropolis filled with European visitors, ordinary people had the opportunity to see courtly life up close.

No serious historian doubts that Shakespeare was the author of the plays that bear his name. Susan Amussen shares what they know: that Shakespeare’s England was a complex and cosmopolitan place, with everything a talented young playwright needed to develop his craft and furnish his imagination.

Practical Information

Booking is essential. Lit&Phil members: we recommend logging into the website to make booking your free member ticket quicker and easier.

Accessibility Information

The venue is wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing [email protected]

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Main Hall, Friends' Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester, United Kingdom

Tickets

GBP 7.21 to GBP 16.96

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