At the age of 18, William Shakespeare married a local woman called Anne Hathaway late in 1582 when Anne was 26 years of age, and carrying Shakespeare’s child.

Anne then followed tradition and moved in with Shakespeare and his parents to live in their family home on Henley Street.

Interestingly, for such a public figure, very little is known about Anne and William’s relationship. All we can say with certainty is that they married, had three children Susanna, Judith and Hamnet and they remained married until Shakespeare’s death in 1616. Upon his death at their home “New Place” in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare left his ‘second best bed’ to Anne in his will.

Anne Shakespeare died in 1623 outliving her already famous husband by 7 years. The couple are buried inside Holy Trinity Church, Stratford- upon- Avon near each other but not in the same tomb.

Lesley Smith’s vibrant and often amusing talk given in spectacular costume made by a specialist from the RSC, explores the possibilities of their relationship and finally deals with that “second best bed”.