A Rose by Any Other Name
by Rosemary Loughlin
29 September 2024, 6 pm
Wait! Someone else wrote Shakespeare!?
Presenting her case that someone else wrote Shakespeare, charismatic Irish actor, and lawyer Rose Loughlin is delighted to perform her one-woman show ‘A Rose by Any Other Name’ in Barons Court Theatre. The show charts the colorful journey of Rose’s real-life experiences in her quest to discover who the real Shakespeare is. From clues in Cambridge, to proof in Padua, and validations in Venice, the show offers incredible insights, tales of entertaining encounters, and moving monologues.
The inspiration for the show is Rose’s passion around the Shakespeare authorship question, a subject she became interested in by accident while studying classical acting. For an extra understanding of Shakespeare, she read up on his background but became fascinated by the weight of evidence in favor of the alternative candidate, Elizabethan courtier, poet and playwright Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford to have written the plays and poems under the pseudonym William Shakespeare.
“Applying some analytical skills from my legal career to Shakespeare, I traveled to places associated with de Vere; where he was born, lived and worked, visited, and died. Those journeys were filled with magic moments and unexpected delights, providing ripe material for a show that I hope sparks intrigue and wonderment,” says Rose.
While Rose hopes the audience may develop curiosity around Shakespeare authorship, her human story shines through, underpinned by universal themes of personal transformation and the joy of discovery.
For those interested in Shakespeare, ‘A Rose by Any Other Name’ promises to challenge long-standing perceptions and offers a brand-new perspective. For those not especially interested in Shakespeare, the charm and conviction of the protagonist’s delivery may well awaken a curiosity in learning more.
Directed by Andrew Deering
About Rosemary Loughlin
Hailing from Cork, Rosemary ‘Rose’ Loughlin is a Dublin-based lawyer and actor. Her acting training includes Stanislavski, Meisner, classical, voice, and bodywork. It was while studying classical acting under acclaimed Director/Playwright Andy Hinds, author of 'Acting Shakespeare's Language' that she became fascinated by the Shakespeare Authorship Question. Subsequently, she became an active member of The De Vere Society, a registered charity promoting evidence that Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford was the author using the pseudonym William Shakespeare.