In Search of Shakespeare

Since then, Michael has been abroad with 'In Search of the Trojan War', 'In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great', and ... well, you get the general picture.

Now he's back in England -- mostly Warwickshire, Lancashire and London, actually -- and he's ditched the denim in favour of the Barbour 'Bushman' jacket and Karrimor backpack. This four-part programme is as much a celebration of England's landscape and ancient buildings as it is the story of our greatest playwright. The photography is exceptional, the music well-composed, and Michael is always a pleasant companion to escort us around the key sites. We also spend much time in the company of the RSC, as they travel around the more authentic venues to perform excerpts from Othello, Henry IVth Part Two, Romeo & Juliet etc.

There's always latent demand on British TV for Shakespeare insmall, digestible chunks. It is one of the regrets of so many adults that they wished they liked Shakespeare more ... if only it wasn't so much work to appreciate him, compared to 'Friends' etc. Here Michael makes him very digestible. If you could cope with 'Shakespeare in Love', then you can handle this series. The problem for me is that, having now viewed it once, when will I next want to watch it again? Probably in a couple of years' time. This is really a DVD to buy, watch once, and then lend to friends and family.

One intriguing moment: in the College of Arms sequence, William Hunt, who used to run the HAC recruits course, takes Michael through the creation of the Shakespeare coat of arms. For the final shot, Mr Hunt is suddenly wearing his mess kit -- why??

But back to the real world: one of the strengths of this series is that it shows the audience so clearly entranced and enjoying themselves. If this series doesn't have you rushing out to buy a copy of Ovid's Metamorphoses, it should at least persuade you to stop watching the telly and go out to the theatre, which can be no bad thing.

From them we find out such things as Shakespeare's unpaid tax bills , when he skipped town to avoid payment as well as records of the interogation of him and his company in connection with a plot against Queen Elizabeth. There are even files on his father John Shakespeare who was fined for illegal wool trading (the equivalant of oil trading today) and money lending. It is not surprising that extensive files exist as Shakespeare was a Catholic in a Protestant England that brooked no opposition in politics and religion. The Shakespeare family were at the center of those who clung to the old faith and several relatives were executed. One point Wood makes over and over is that Elizabeathean England was no colorful Masterpiece Theatre show with folks in colorful costumes traipsing about the lawn . It was a police state whose enforcers had full power of thumb screw and little restrictions on how they obtained information.Like most police states they have the urge to leave voluminous records of their activities no matter how repelant. Like many others Wood has his theories about certain aspects of Shakespeare's life but he is always clear in saying that it is what he thinks and it might not be right. He at least provides facts to show how those conclusions might be possible.

Excerpts from the plays are presented in their proper order by the touring company of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Interestingly they are performed as they usually would be in Shakespeare's time, in the courtyards of inns or halls of stately homes. The audiences are clearly enjoying the closer contact with the actors and vice versa. If you only know this series from American public television then yor are going to be in for a surprise. PBS trimmed the series from 4 one hour episodes to 3 one hour episodes. This set contains all 4 hours with a few other extras.

In the end the viewer will come to understand how much Shakespeare was a part of the fabric of his time. He was not just some writer sitting about the theatre as the world passed by. He was fully involved in the religious and political turmoil of his time and much of it was to provide material for much of his work. How so is one of the finer elements of Wood's presentation.