The Curious Lives of Shakespeare & Cervantes

By Asa Palomera

This comic romp through the lives of literary masters William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes charts their influence on the modern world. It contrasts the fortunes of two contemporaries whose native countries – England and Spain – went from alliance to enmity in a short space of time.

2016 marked the 400th anniversary of the deaths of two of the world’s most famous authors, William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes.

Pioneering writer and director, Asa Palomera (“a powerhouse on Melbourne’s independent theatre scene”): “I’ve tried to bring forth the sheer humanity of theirs, to present them as it were in their under wears, to show that the emotions we feel from their work are as human as the emotions they, in turn, experienced when they were alive.”

Productions of The Curious Lives of Shakespeare & Cervantes: Adam House Theatre (Edinburgh, 2010), Bloomsbury Theatre (London, 2010), Thai premiere (Bangkok Theatre Festival, 2014). Staged reading at Tara Theatre (London, November 2016).

“this well-charted account of key events in each of their lives moves at a relentless pace … dynamic narration…the audience never loses touch.”
--Scotsman

“The private lives of creative geniuses have long fascinated literary groupies in search of clues about where inspiration comes from… Asa Gim Palomera’s restless piece of imagined history [treats] the two writers as equals with an awful lot in common, despite the age gap that nevertheless saw both men shuffle off this mortal coil within 11 days of each other.” --Herald

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aurora Metro Books
• Release date: Feb 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781911501145

Book preview

Tariao.

THE CURIOUS LIVES OF SHAKESPEARE & CERVANTES

by Asa Palomera

This version of the play was read by actors at Tara Arts Centre, London on 22 November 2016, directed by Sarah Chew.

Main Characters

William Shakespeare

Miguel de Cervantes

Lope de Vega

Anne Hathaway

Catalina de Palacio

Queen Elizabeth/Actress 3

and many minor characters

3 Male / 3 Female

All actors double roles.

Entrance music: Fantasia para un Gentile Hombre by Joaquin Rodrigo

Six actors enter in 17th century costumes using dance steps of that period. They carry their own stools and sit in two rows of three.

ACTRESS 3

Somewhere in La Mancha, in a place whose name I do not care to remember, a gentleman lived not long ago, one of those who has a lance and an ancient shield on a shelf, and keeps a skinny nag and has a greyhound for racing. An occasional stew, beef more often than lamb, hash most nights, eggs and abstinence on Saturdays, lentils on Fridays, sometimes a squab as a treat on Sundays, these consumed three fourths of his income.

CATALINA (sung operatically)

On the 23rd of April 1616 William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes, two of the greatest writers the world has known, passed away.

ALL

A… men…

CERVANTES

Yet, in a twist not unworthy of the Comedy of Errors, although the date coincided, the day in reality did not, an irony that both authors would have keenly appreciated. England was under the Julian calendar while Spain had already switched to the Gregorian calendar, which was eleven days ahead.

CATALINA

The lives of Cervantes and Shakespeare have many similarities, though they sometimes seem to be an inverted reflection of one another.

LOPE DE VEGA

Shakespeare grew rich: Cervantes remained poor. Both men lived in a season of glory and power for their countries, but Shakespeare’s Protestant England was waxing when Cervantes’ Catholic Spain was waning. Cervantes collected taxes to have the Spanish Armada attack England. Shakespeare had occasion to celebrate its defeat. Shakespeare was celebrated by his contemporaries, like Ben Johnson.

ANNE (as BEN JOHNSON)

I confess thy writings to be as such as neither man nor muse can praise too much.

CATALINA

Cervantes was derided by his peers, like Lope De