Shakespeare Takes Center Stage in New BBC Series UPSTART CROW

BroadwayWorld is excited to report that BBC Two has commissioned UPSTART CROW -- a six-part series about the life of William Shakespeare -- as part of the BBC Shakespeare Festival 2016, a major season celebrating the genius of Shakespeare, 400 years after his death. David Mitchell will take on the lead role.

It's 1592 and Will Shakespeare is just at the beginning of his extraordinary career. The series will focus on both Will's family and professional life and include the surprising stories of where many of his ideas came from. Also featured are his wife Anne and his extended family, his servant Bottom, his friends Kate and Marlowe, his theatrical troupe, and his rival Robert Greene.

In the series, Will finds inspiration for Romeo from an unlikely source; mislays a nearly treasonous masterpiece; gets tricked into a very embarrassing pair of tights; has a spot of bother with the wife over some sonnets; meets three witches who predict great things for him; and borrows some money on some rather unusual conditions.

Writer Ben Elton joked, "I have tried very hard to think myself into Shakespeare's creative world, writing only with a small chicken feather and not changing my underpants for a year."

Other cast confirmed are Harry Enfield (Harry & Paul) as Will's dad, John Shakespeare; Paula Wilcox (Emmerdale) as Will's mum; Liza Tarbuck (Linda Green, Mount Pleasant) as Anne Hathaway; Helen Monks (Raised by Wolves) as Will's daughter Susannah; Gemma Whelan (Game of Thrones) as Kate; Mark Heap (Spaced, Friday Night Dinner) as Sir Robert Greene, Will's nemesis; Steve Speirs (Big School) as Burbage; Tim Downie (Paddington, Toast of London) as Marlowe; Dominic Coleman (Peaky Blinders, Trollied) as Kempleton; Spencer Jones (Big Babies) as a member of Burbage's company; and Rob Rouse (Grownups) as Bottom. Further cast details will be announced at a later date.

UPSTART CROW is part of the BBC's Shakespeare Festival 2016. In April 2016, as the nation marks 400 years since William Shakespeare's death, the BBC will celebrate our greatest writer and bring his work to a new generation. Working with key partners including the Royal Shakespeare Company, The British Council, the Royal Opera House, Shakespeare's Globe, Hay Festival, the Space and the British Film Institute, the ambition is to get more people enjoying Shakespeare than ever before by interpreting his work in bold, new ways and placing it at the heart of the schedules - across TV, radio and online.

The BBC Shakespeare Festival will launch on 23 April -- to celebrate Shakespeare's birthday -- and continue for a month across the network's services.

David Mitchell is a comedian, actor, writer and the polysyllabic member of Mitchell and Webb. He has won BAFTAs for PEEP SHOW and THAT MITCHELL AND WEBB LOOK. David has also starred in JAM AND JERUSALEM, THE BLEAK OLD SHOP OF STUFF and AMBASSADORS. He writes for The Observer, chairs The Unbelievable Truth, is a team captain on Would I Lie To You? and has been in two films, neither of which made a profit.

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