A Waste of Shame: The Mystery of Shakespeare and His Sonnets
(2005)

A mystery in Shakespeare's sonnets is explored.

Released: 2005-11-22

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In 1609, William Shakespeare published a collection of 154 sonnets, creating what is arguably the greatest lyric sequence in English literature - and at the center of this masterpiece lies a mystery that has endured for centuries. What are the identities of “the young man” and “the dark lady” to whom all but two of the sonnets allude? This moving performance brings to life the gritty reality of Shakespeare’s England, bits of the Bard’s plays and poems, and the consummate poet and dramatist himself as it exposes these personages unseen but so keenly felt in Shakespeare’s sonnets and in his life. Rupert Graves, Tom Sturridge, Indira Varma, Anna Chancellor, and Zoë Wanamaker star. Contains mature themes and explicit language. Some content may be objectionable. Produced by the Open University.

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Rupert Graves

as William Shakespeare

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Tom Sturridge

as William Herbert

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Indira Varma

as Lucie "The dark lady"

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Zoë Wanamaker

as Countess of Pembroke

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Anna Chancellor

as Anne Hathaway

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Andrew Tiernan

as Ben Jonson

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Nicky Henson

as John Shakespeare

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Alan Williams

as George Wilkin

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Nicholas Rowe

as Richard Burbage

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Tom Hiddleston

as John Hall

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Tom Mison

as Young Blood

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Camilla Arfwedson

as Lucie's Maid

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Joanne McCallin

as Street Hoare

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Joseph Rhys Blake

as Street Urchin

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Clem Tibber

as Hamnet Shakespeare

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Ian Hughes

as Thomas Thorpe

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Richard Fell

Executive Producer

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Chrissy Skinns

Executive Producer

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Sally Woodward Gentle

Executive Producer

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Kevin Sargent

Original Music Composer

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Tim Palmer

Director of Photography

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Martyn John

Production Design

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Nick Blanche

Art Direction

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Sara Mathers

Set Decoration

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Annie Townsend

Makeup Artist

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