Blackadder - Season 0 Episode 16 The Shakespeare Sketch

Name: Blackadder
Genre: Comedy
Released: 02 Nov 1989
Rating: 7.97
Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Tim McInnerny, Stephen Fry

The most gripping sitcom since 1380. 1989-11-02 United Kingdom, Australia 32 minutes.

7.97 551 votes

Comedy england civil war servant world war i prince army queen elizabeth i satire dark comedy middle ages (476-1453)sitcom aggressive 16th century absurd hilarious amused exhilarated cunning plan

Episodes
Info
Cast

Season - Episode

4 Season 4 Sep 28, 1989

4 - 1

Captain Cook Sep 28, 1989
4 - 2

Corporal Punishment Oct 05, 1989
4 - 3

Major Star Oct 12, 1989
4 - 4

Private Plane Oct 19, 1989
4 - 5

General Hospital Oct 26, 1989
4 - 6

Goodbyeee Nov 02, 1989

3 Season 3 Sep 17, 1987

3 - 1

Dish and Dishonesty Sep 17, 1987
3 - 2

Ink and Incapability Sep 24, 1987
3 - 3

Nob and Nobility Oct 01, 1987
3 - 4

Sense and Senility Oct 08, 1987
3 - 5

Amy and Amiability Oct 15, 1987
3 - 6

Duel and Duality Oct 22, 1987

2 Season 2 Jan 09, 1986

2 - 1

Bells Jan 09, 1986
2 - 2

Head Jan 16, 1986
2 - 3

Potato Jan 23, 1986
2 - 4

Money Feb 05, 1986
2 - 5

Beer Feb 13, 1986
2 - 6

Chains Feb 20, 1986

1 Season 1 Jun 15, 1983

1 - 1

The Foretelling Jun 15, 1983
1 - 2

Born to Be King Jun 22, 1983
1 - 3

The Archbishop Jun 29, 1983
1 - 4

The Queen of Spain's Beard Jul 06, 1983
1 - 5

Witchsmeller Pursuivant Jul 13, 1983
1 - 6

The Black Seal Jul 20, 1983

0 Season 0 Jan 01, 1970

0 - 1

The Black Adder Jan 01, 1970
0 - 2

Blackadder's Christmas Carol Dec 23, 1988
0 - 3

Back and Forth Dec 31, 1999
0 - 4

Baldrick's Video Diary Nov 27, 2000
0 - 5

Interview - Stephen Fry in Africa Oct 19, 2009
0 - 6

Richard Curtis & Ben Elton in Soho Oct 19, 2009
0 - 7

Tony Robinson in London Oct 19, 2009
0 - 8

Miranda Richardson at the BBC Oct 19, 2009
0 - 9

Hilary Bevan Jones at BAFTA Oct 19, 2009
0 - 10

Hugh Laurie on set in Hollywood Oct 19, 2009
0 - 11

Rik Mayall in London Oct 19, 2009
0 - 12

Miranda, Tony, Tim & Patsy go back to the BBC Oct 19, 2009
0 - 13

Interview - Rowan Atkinson Jan 01, 1970
0 - 14

Interview - Rowan Atkinson #2 Jan 01, 1970
0 - 15

Behind The Screen - Making Blackadder Goes Forth Oct 16, 1989
0 - 16

The Shakespeare Sketch Sep 18, 1989
0 - 17

Blackadder Rides Again Dec 25, 2008
0 - 18

Blackadder: The Cavalier Years Nov 13, 1988
0 - 19

Red Nose Day Sketch Mar 17, 2023
0 - 20

Blackadder: The Lost Pilot Jun 15, 2023
0 - 21

Blackadder: A Cunning Story Jun 16, 2023
0 - 22

Blackadder Exclusive: The Whole Rotten Saga Oct 09, 2008
0 - 23

Blackadder's Most Cunning Moments May 12, 2008
0 - 24

Blackadder and the King's Birthday Nov 14, 1998
0 - 25

Blackadder: The Army Years Jan 01, 2000
0 - 26

Baldrick on Clown Court Jan 06, 1988
0 - 27

Blackadder Goes Forth Interview Jan 08, 1989
0 - 28

Britain's Best Sitcoms - Blackadder Jan 17, 2004
0 - 29

Back And Forth (with Documentary) Dec 06, 1999
0 - 30

Blackadder & The Banking Crisis Nov 28, 2012
0 - 31

Banker Sketch Nov 28, 2012
0 - 32

An Interview with Richard Curtis Mar 24, 1999
0 - 33

A Blackadder in the Making Mar 25, 1994

Overview

This non-canonical sketch was performed on stage at the Sadlers Wells Theatre on 18 September 1989. It was written for and performed at an AIDS benefit concert directed by Stephen Fry, and features Rowan Atkinson as a Blackadder-esque character chatting with Hugh Laurie as "Bill" Shakespeare, talking about cutting various sections of Hamlet – in particular the "To be or not to be" soliloquy. Ultimately, Blackadder talks Shakespeare down from an over-long speech to the familiar 'snappy' phrase. The sketch was available on video as part of Hysteria 2 – The Second Coming, released by Palace Video on 21 May 1990

Year 1989

Studio BBC One

Director Richard Curtis, Rowan Atkinson, Ben Elton

Crew Ben Elton (Writer), Richard Curtis (Writer), John Lloyd (Producer), Chris Wadsworth (Editor), Howard Goodall (Original Music Composer)

Popularity 16.2336

Language English