2010 Symposium Schedule

A Symposium:  Shakespeare from the Oxfordian Perspective

Who Wrote Shakespeare?

Saturday, May 8, 2010  9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Watertown Free Public Library

Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room, 1st Floor

123 Main Street, Watertown, MA

Email:  info@shakespearesymposium.org

Telephone:  617-955-3198

Admission Free and open to the public

RSVP recommended to ensure you a space

You may attend any or all of the presentations

Alex McNeil, a past-president of The Shakespeare Fellowship will be Master of Ceremonies

9:30 a.m.  Alex McNeil, “An Overview of the Shakespeare authorship question.”  McNeil will cover why is there a question, the history of the issue, and give an introduction to Edward de Vere, 17th earl of Oxford.

10:45 a.m.  Frank Davis, “Shakespeare’s Signatures.”  A comparison of the illegible six known “Shakespeare” signatures to the extant signatures of other contemporary authors, actors and significant persons (both famous and lesser known) of Shakespeare’s time.  This comparison highlights a compelling issue -- why couldn’t this great writer sign his own name?

11:45 a.m.  Richard Whalen, “The Oxfordian edition of Othello”  Whalen will describe the extraordinary correspondences between Oxford’s life experiences and ‘Othello’ and sign copies of the recently released Oxfordian edition of this play.

12:00 p.m. Lunch - A sandwich lunch will be served in the Library

                               

1:00 p.m.  Sarah Smith,  “Tribute to Joanna Wexler,” champion of the earl Oxford.

1:15 p.m.  Charles Berney, performance as Mark Twain discussing his infamous essay, “Is Shakespeare Dead.”

1:30 p.m.  Marie Merkel, “Caliban’s Dream and Shakespeare’s Purge.”  Why would ‘Honest’ Ben Jonson take part in a cover-up of the Bard’s true identity?  If Shakespeare is Edward de Vere, then the ‘purge’ that the earl administered to Jonson, in the form of several lampoons on the public stage during the ‘Poet’s War’ of 1597 ~ 1602, may hold the key to this perennial question.

2:45 p.m.  Charles Beauclerk, “Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens.”  Beauclerk will discuss Timon as an authorial work and a portrait of Edward de Vere.  He will also discuss his newly released book, Shakespeare’s Lost Kingdom:  The True History of Shakespeare and Elizabeth, and there will be time for Q & A and book signing.

Books will be available for purchase at this event

Thank You Watertown Businesses

For your generous support