How did Shakespeare become the world’s greatest playwright? It’s a question that has long fascinated scholars and fans alike. My latest research suggests that one answer lies in the Bard’s close collaboration with his leading man, Richard Burbage.
Their partnership lasted more than 25 years, and as my new book, Richard Burbage and the Shakespearean Stage, reveals, the creative chemistry between writer and actor transformed their art and elevated their respective profiles – a bit like an Elizabethan Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro.
Shakespeare and Burbage’s careers likely started in the 1580s. But the first time we hear of them being members of the same acting company is in 1595.
