Documentary series · Shakespeare in Love
How Shakespeare became Shakespeare.
A three-part documentary series for the West End premiere of Shakespeare in Love, the stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning film. This episode, Imagining Shakespeare, asks why his plays still speak to us, with Shakespeare scholar James Shapiro and the production’s director, Declan Donnellan.
The projectClient
Shakespeare in Love
Featuring
James Shapiro and Declan Donnellan
Sector
Theatre
Service
Documentary video
Film
4 min 38 sec (episode 1 of 3)
Where it ran
Online, digital and social channels
From brief to finished film.
How we explored the man behind the story ahead of a West End premiere.
01 · The briefBuild anticipation for a premiere
The production wanted a series that built interest ahead of the West End premiere by exploring the real Shakespeare behind the story.
03 · The outcomeA three-part series
Three episodes, Imagining Shakespeare, Designing Shakespeare and Staging Shakespeare, led by this 4 min 38 sec opener. Shared across online, digital and social channels.
02 · Our approachA scholar, a director and the archive
We filmed a presenter at the theatre, interviewed Shakespeare scholar James Shapiro and director Declan Donnellan, and illustrated their thoughts with portraits, early printed texts and Shakespeare’s London.
04 · What we deliveredThree episodes, one premiere
Three documentary episodes
Presenter-led format filmed at the theatre
Interviews with a scholar and the director
Archive portraits, paintings and early printed texts
Behind the scenes
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The scholar
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The director
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Shakespeare’s London
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The playhouse
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The plays
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The court
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Planning a documentaryTell us your budget. We’ll show you what it buys.
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Tell us who the film is for, where it’ll be seen and roughly what you’d like to spend. A range is fine.
01 Brief & budget
02 A plan that fits
We show you exactly what your budget buys: scripting, filming days, editing or animation.
Script, shoot, edit and animate. Most films take 2–6 weeks from brief to delivery.
03 We make it
Your finished film plus versions for your website, social channels, events and presentations.
04 Ready for every channel
In the film“No movie has ever told the story of how Shakespeare becomes Shakespeare better than Shakespeare in Love. Sure, it’s fantasy, but there’s a truth at the heart of that fantasy.”
James Shapiro, Author and Shakespeare Scholar
In the film“We don’t do Shakespeare because he’s of historical interest, not at all. We do plays because he’s writing about us.”
Declan Donnellan, Director, Shakespeare in Love
Let’s talk about your documentary.
Tell us a little about the project and your budget. We’ll reply within 24 hours with ideas and a clear plan — no obligation. Or email info@sneakglobal.com.