Professor Dobson Reveals the Real Edward Alleyn

Who was the real Edward Alleyn? And how do we know about him? On Tuesday 23 November, students, staff, parents and alumni were fortunate to hear from Professor Michael Dobson, Director of Birmingham University’s Shakespeare Institute, on Tuesday of this week in a hilarious and fact-packed talk about our illustrious founder. In a scintillating one-hour talk, we were taken through Alleyn’s early years and career before learning about his existence parallel to Richard Burbage, another great of the Elizabethan stage. And while Burbage elevated himself to a position in court as star of the King’s Men – James I’s court acting company – Alleyn became master of the king's games of bears, bulls and dogs, which ­– whilst altogether far more unsavoury than a life in the limelight – ultimately (and with the astute business sense of his father-in-law, Philip Henslowe) proved far more lucrative for Alleyn.

Whether he would have left so much to charitable causes had it not been for his lack of children remains a matter for speculation, but the thousands of children who have benefited from his legacy over the last 400 years are certainly grateful for everything he left behind!

In addition to a fantastic lecture, Professor Dobson also led an hour-long Q&A on Shakespeare’s plays for our A-level English students and joined a select group of sixth formers for dinner in the staff dining room.

The next Ideas@Alleyn’s talk will be given by Emma Barnett, presenter of the BBC’s Woman’s Hour and Newsnight, in a talk entitled “Fast-paced media: how to read, watch and listen to the news”.