The Editors
This exhibition was conceived as a way of celebrating the 400 years of the publication of the First Folio. Its very existence depends on the enterprising acumen of two of Shakespeare's fellow actors, John Heminges and Henry Condell. Both men held shares in The Globe and the Blackfriars Theatres. Heminges was a business-oriented man who eventually became member of the Grocers' Company in the City of London and who is believed to have handled most of the King's Men's money affairs. Both Heminges and Condell passed away just a few years after the publication of the First Folio, which proved to be best tribute they could have paid to their friend and their greatest legacy to the world.
No collection of Shakespeare’s work could ever come to exist without the monumental work done by their editors. This was true for John Heminges and Henry Condell in 1623 and remains true for all the others who have laboured to make new editions available since then. It is just fit then that we do not only highlight the works, but also recognize and celebrate the work of those who have given us the editions of the plays and poems that we now read and study.
It was with considerable trepidation that I contacted the editors of the major editions presented here and asked whether they would be willing to share their views on the work they had done. They all very graciously agreed to give their contribution to this project. They have taken time out of their very busy professional life to share with us their experience and the immense knowledge they have of Shakespeare’s work, life, and times. And for that, we are profoundly grateful.