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Featuring Sir Derek Jacobi, Tony Award Winner & Veteran of the London Stage. Who was the man who wrote these plays and poems? Was the author a grain-dealer named William Shakespeare born in Stratford-upon-Avon or Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford? Why there was a 400 year-old conspiracy to hide the true author? This program provides a stimulating and controversial point of view that is bound to provoke classroom discussion and independent study of the Authorship issue. Drawing on original 16th century documents and the Oxford Bible, this film makes a full investigation into the lives of both Edward de Vere and William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon. Revealing the former as someone already in his own lifetime revered as the best for comedies and the latter as a man who led a double life prosperous merchant at home, well-paid frontman to the Elizabethan era's greatest poet in London. This documentary also examines modern attitudes of scholars with a vested interest in the Stratfordian myth and their suppression of relevant facts to this very day. Sir Derek Jacobi is a protege of the legendary Lawrence Olivier and was a good friend of Sir John Gielgud. He has starred in Shakespeare roles in London and on Broadway and is a Broadway Tony winner for his performance in Much Ado About Nothing. Recently he has starred as Gracchus in the blockbuster movie Gladiator. Written & Directed by Michael Peer, Produced in association with Paul Streitz.
