SWEET WILLIAM

With Michael Pennington

We quote from him, knowingly or not, most days. Who knows how many books about the plays are published every year? He just keeps rolling, more popular than ever.


But Shakespeare was a genius who minded his own business, an ordinary man, not an intellectual, who wrote about what mattered and what didn’t and left the world more vibrant. Language came out of him like a floodtide; glorious, turbulent, funny and simple, and few actors have embraced that language with such passion, skill and lucidity as Michael Pennington. Sweet William is a rapturous celebration of the language and of the man behind the words.


From Buckingham Palace to Her Majesty’s prisons, from the National Theatre to dodging the rats falling from the rafters in Mumbai, for 40 years Michael Pennington has been with Shakespeare all over the world. Now his brilliant one man show comes to Arcola.

With Michael Pennington

“A delightful and illuminating show about our national poet performed by one of our finest thesps… superb and constantly stimulating” Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph


‘For a look at the man, as well as sensitively performed excerpts from his work, Pennington is the one.’ **** Fiona Mountford, Evening Standard


‘A fastidious, illuminating piece, performed with tremendous charm. To see or not to see? Go, if you possibly can.’ Kate Kellaway, Observer



Our greatest verse athlete since John Gielgud’ The Independent

A magnificent classical actor in his prime’ The Guardian

This show is a gem’ Sunday Times

A large spirited salute by a major actor…such a delight.’ The Times