William Davenant

Taking place on the 400th anniversary of Sir William Davenant's (1606-68) birth, Robert Shore celebrates a poet-laureate, masque-maker, dramatist and theatrical entrepreneur who survived syphilis and the menaces of Oliver Cromwell to shape the modern theatrical tradition.

Davenant wrote the first operas - or perhaps musicals would be a better term? - performed in English, oversaw the introduction of actresses to the stage after the Restoration and popularised Shakespeare's works for a new audience.