Shakespeare continues to fascinate scholars all over the world even after a little over four-and-a-half centuries since his birth. The ‘Shakespeare Quarterly’ alone logs about 4,000 new works on him every year. His birth-place, Stratford-Upon-Avon is said to attract close to 1,25,000 visitors annually.

One of the major attractions of Stratford is the beautiful cottage which belonged to his wife, Anna Hathaway. Though we know very little about Shakespeare or his wife, most Shakespearean scholars have been rather unkind to Anna Hathaway and portrayed her as a rather shrewish, unpleasant woman, simply because she was eight years older than the Bard, and because Shakespeare left her to go to London just a couple of years after marriage. They tend to see Anna behind most of the negative female characters created by Shakespeare.

Did Anna seduce an innocent, teenage Shakespeare and force him into marriage? Was this why Shakespeare used the first opportunity to leave her and run off to London? How did Anna Hathaway bring up 3 children and manage to live alone for over 30 years without a trace of scandal?

A lot of research, undertaken largely by feminist scholars, in recent years has thrown new light on Anna Hathaway’s character and her relationship with her husband.

Inspired by the novel ‘Mrs. Shakespeare’ by Robert Nay, the well-researched work, ‘Shakespeare’s Wife’ by Germaine Greer and Shakespeare’s own sonnets, ‘Shakespearana Srimathi’ takes a refreshing, new look at the Bard’s wife.

‘Every Shakespeare biography is 5% fact and 95% conjecture,’ says a Shakespearean scholar. ‘We can assure you that our play has more than 5% truth!’ says the team presenting the play. Written by Uday Itagi ‘Shakespearana Srimathi’,  is directed by Vishwaraj Patil and performed by Laxmi Chandrashekar, who is known for her solo performances. Sound design by Gajanana T. Nayak, costumes by N. Mangala, sets by Vishwanath Mandi, Lights by Muddanna Rattehalli and Make- up by Ramakrishna Kannarapadi have enhanced the beauty of the play. The play was premiered at Ranga Shankara on Apr. 22 and 23 to coincide with the day of Shakespeare’s birth and death.

One performance has been sponsored by the Mysore Literary Association at 12 noon on Sunday (July 3) at Natana Rangashale in Ramakrishnanagar, ‘K’ Block, Mysuru. There will be an interaction session with Laxmi Chandrashekar after the show.

Patrons are requested to wear face masks and be seated at the auditorium by 11.50 am.

Entry will be on first come first served basis, according to a press release from Prof. B.N. Balajee, Vice-President, Mysore Literary Association.