The First Folio: The Making of Shakespeare

FAIN: TR-287672-22

WNET (New York, NY 10019-7416)
Stephen Segaller (Project Director: January 2022 to present)

Production of a two-hour PBS documentary on the 400-year history of Shakespeare’s plays since they were collected in the First Folio in 1623.

The First Folio: The Making of Shakespeare will be a two-hour PBS documentary marking the 400th anniversary of the most important publishing event in English literature: the publication, in 1623, of the First Folio of the plays of William Shakespeare. Created by the team that produced the NEH-funded series Shakespeare Uncovered, with the collaboration of New York’s Public Theater, the film will recount the process of locating, correcting and printing Shakespeare's plays; the Folio’s fascinating history over 400 years; and why these plays – which, without the First Folio, would be unrecognizable or lost – continue to matter to global audiences. The film will air nationally in primetime, and stream online, as part of the WNET series Great Performances.

Associated Products

"Great Performances - Making Shakespeare: The First Folio" (Film/TV/Video Broadcast or Recording)
Title: "Great Performances - Making Shakespeare: The First Folio"
Writer: Nicola Stockley
Director: Nicola Stockley
Producer: Richard Denton
Abstract: This two-hour PBS documentary tells the story of the greatest publication event in the history of English literature: the printing of the First Folio of William Shakespeare’s full plays. Without the publication of this volume 400 years ago, half of Shakespeare’s plays would have been lost, and many others exist in incomplete or inaccurate form. Narrated by Audra McDonald, the film recounts the creation of what one advisor calls “the most important secular book in the history of the Western world,” tells fascinating stories of various people who have owned and collected copies, and testifies to the enduring appeal and relevance of Shakespeare today.
Year: 2023
Primary URL: https://vimeo.com/871687081/0de4997af8?share=copy
Primary URL Description: This is a Vimeo link to the film.
Access Model: The film aired nationally on PBS. It was available for free streaming for one month and can still be streamed by PBS members.h; it
Format: Web
Format: Film

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