What is the Dead Eliabethan Society

So what is the Dead Elizabethan Society?

    The Dead Elizabethan Society started as a concept discussed by some members of the society, over coffee, in a cafe on a night after a show (which may or may not have been Oliver, the author unfortunately was not one of these members). In it's conception, a group of people getting together to read Shakespeare on a semi-regular basis for general amusement, understanding and entertainment. The idea was not actually taken seriously until, walking back to the theatre from the cafe that night, one society member mentioned to another society member that in all actuality, it was a very good idea; to which, the second member replied "After the Crucible, darling."
     So, the idea was left dormant until mentioned again by the second society member to the author of this page, in passing one evening on the phone, shortly after rehersals for The Crucible were begun. The author mulled on this a while and also concurred that this was an exceptionally decent idea, but again, the idea was left dormant.
     One night, after an all day rehersal at the property of the esteemed Stedman's (who also obligingly let some of us get some riding time in as well) The idea began to be discussed in earnest by four members of the society; namely, Susan Rosengaard, Aaron Scully, Michael Terry and Cassandra Williams; and ideas were thrown back and forth about the merits of such ideas, and then began to grow into the idea of Shakespeare readings, possibly resulting in productions (two of the members were very strenuous in their proposal that Much Ado About Nothing, would be an exceptionally good play to start with). And it was from this discussion that the society was finally christened The Dead Elizabethan Society, and was expanded to include other playwrights of the era. And after the exhaustive evening, the group broke up and nothing more was said.
     But the author of this page has long been known for her tendancy to become inspired by an idea and to run with it; and so the web-page was born, and the purpose behind it was to provide not only a focal point for a damnably fabulous idea, but also an online resource of texts that can be accessed by the members of the society, without any particular effort on thier part. To hunt down, source and link e-texts of the various plays of interest to the society so they could be easily downloaded/printed /saved at the members whimsy; and to also give some brief background as to the identity of the playwright's and their histroy as it is known.

So Who are the Dead Elizabethans?

The Society defines the "Dead Elizabethans" as any playwrights who were born, lived or died during the reign of Elizabeth I of England. Considering that most playwrights of the Tudor, Elizabethan and Jacobean eras fall into this category, we're just plain lucky.
There are exceptions, however; and these are nominally called "Honourary Dead Elizabethans" and are deigned by the society as playwrights of exceptional enough ability for us to regard them as being on an artistic par with the actual "Dead Elizabethans". Oscar Wilde, Percy Bysshe-Shelley, Molliere and Tom Stoppard are currently accepted "Honourary Dead Elizabethans" as they display talents, traits and artistic sympathy similar to those of the playwrights of the earlier period. In some cases, Honourary Dead Elizabethans are still living, subsequently the society acknowledges copywright laws and as such, texts must be purchased.

So Who are the members of The Dead Elizabethan Society?

Completely insane, wonderfully talented and utterly enthusiastic people who really love theatre and good plays. Check out the members on the Members Page

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