Episode 2

A 30-year-old Shakespeare is at the top of his game: he's got a job at England's best theatre company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and the money is rolling in. Determined to restore his family's reputation, Shakespeare works harder than ever, producing hit after hit: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Henry IV and Julius Caesar. But as his star rises, a series of tragedies strike. Shakespeare's life, purpose and family are thrown into chaos, and he begins to question if his new life is worth the sacrifice.

Take a deep dive into Shakespeare’s life story, the place and time he inhabited and the work he produced. Cinematic, dramatic vignettes bring Shakespeare’s story to life throughout the series. Featuring appearances by Dame Judi Dench, Brian Cox, Adrian Lester, Dame Helen Mirren, Martin Freeman and Jessie Buckley and more.