Stephen Greenblatt to Appear In Conversation With Antoni Cimolino

Stephen Greenblatt, one of the world's most popular and celebrated Shakespeare scholars, is making a special stop at the Stratford Festival on June 1 to discuss Shakespeare, politics and his newly released book, Tyrant, with Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino, in an event moderated by Paul Kennedy, host of CBC Radio's Ideas.

Dr. Greenblatt is a humanities professor at Harvard University and author of 13 books, including Shakespeare's Freedom; Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare; Hamlet in Purgatory; and the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Swerve: How the World Became Modern. He released his newest work, Tyrant: Shakespeare on Politics, earlier this month.

"I am thrilled to offer our audiences an opportunity to get to know Stephen Greenblatt through what I know will be an extraordinary Forum event. Stephen has published several profoundly engaging books, filled with rich insight and written in a beautifully accessible style. There's nothing stuffy about this Shakespeare scholar!" says Mr. Cimolino.

"His newest book, the incredibly timely Tyrant: Shakespeare on Politics, is a perfect complement to our season, in which questions of tyranny and democracy feature rather largely, in plays such as Coriolanus, Julius Caesar and The Tempest. With CBC's Paul Kennedy asking his signature searching questions, we will discuss politics in Shakespeare's day and our own. I hope you'll join me as I sit down with one of my heroes."

The event takes place in the Studio Theatre on Friday, June 1, beginning at 10:30 a.m. and will be followed by a book signing. Tickets, priced at $20 and $25, are available at www.Stratfordfestival.ca/Forum or through the box office at 1.800.567.1600.

The Stratford Festival's 2018 season runs until November 4, featuring The Tempest, The Comedy of Errors, Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, The Music Man, The Rocky Horror Show, Long Day's Journey Into Night, An Ideal Husband, To Kill a Mockingbird, Napoli Milionaria!, Brontë: The World Without and Paradise Lost.