British Universities Film & Video Council

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Shakespeare’s Tomb

Synopsis
A documentary on an archaeological investigation of Shakespeare’s tomb presented by historian Dr Helen Castor. For decades, all requests to perform archaeology at the grave have been turned down by Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon. But now they have allowed this scan, which enables investigation below ground-level without disturbing the site. Historians and archaeologists have long argued over Shakespeare’s final resting place, questioning the size of the stone, which is too short for an adult burial, and which carries no name, only a curse. The investigation of the grave was led by archaeologist Kevin Colls of Staffordshire University, and geophysicist Erica Utsi. They made a number of important discoveries which together with Colls’ wider investigations have led him to conclude: "We have Shakespeare’s burial with an odd disturbance at the head end and we have a story that suggests that at some point in history someone’s come in and taken the skull of Shakespeare. It’s very very convincing to me that his skull isn’t at Holy Trinity at all."
Language
English
Country
Great Britain; United States
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Transmission details
26 Mar 2016 at 20:00 (Channel: Channel 4)
Duration
46 mins

Credits

Producer
Sophie Elwin Harris
Contributor
Erica Utsi; Helen Castor; Kevin Colls; Paul Edmondson

Additional Details

Production type
Documentary/Educational/News
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
archaeological investigation; biographies; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Stratford-upon-Avon

Notes

Notes
Available on DVD Region 1 USA and Canada only.

Production Company

Name

Arrow International Media

Sponsor

Name

Channel Four Television

Phone
071-396 4444
Address
LONDON
SW1P 2TX

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7255 1444
Fax
020 7436 0165
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
Name

Learning on Screen Off-Air Recording Back-up Service

Email
services@bufvc.ac.uk
Web
http://bufvc.ac.uk/tvandradio/offair External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7393 1514
Fax
020 7393 1555
Address
For Learning on Screen Members only
77 Wells Street
London
W1T 3QJ

Distributor

Name

PBS Shop

Web
http://www.shoppbs.org External site opens in new window

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