Shakespeare: Stage and Screen

The year 2016 marks 400 years since the death of the celebrated playwright and poet William Shakespeare. Shakespeare remains one of the most famous and prolific writers in the English language and his plays are still widely read, studied and performed. This slideshow presents a selection of photographs from the National Portrait Gallery’s Collection depicting actors in character for theatrical or film productions of Shakespeare’s plays. The photographs date from the earliest days of the medium to the contemporary period, illustrating how Shakespeare’s work has continued to be re-interpreted for modern audiences.