The Shakespeare Ladies Club (2026)
How it all began
In 2021, I came across a YouTube lecture by Robin P. Williams about the almost-forgotten Shakespeare Ladies Club of 1736, who helped save the reputation of Britain’s best-loved poet. For twenty-five years, I had been searching for a subject on which to write a historical novel. Now, at last, guided by Robin to these determined, tenacious 18th-century women, I had found it.
When I first sat down to write about Elizabeth Boyd and the members of the Shakespeare Ladies Club, I wasn’t sure I’d ever finish writing the novel, let alone have it published.
Dreams, it seems, do come true.
Click here or on Iain Will’s painting below to learn about the documented history of the original 18th-century club members.
Would you like to become a 21st-century Shakespeare Lady?
Having been so inspired by these incredible women, I was determined to relaunch the club for the 21st century.
Click here for a BBC News story about the launch on International Women’s Day 2026.
You don’t need to be a Shakespeare expert to join the club. Some members are long-time Shakespeare fans, but many are fairly new to his work.
To join the Facebook group, click the link below.
Shakespeare Ladies 2026 – The Story Continues
Here are a few videos from my ‘Shakespeare Ladies Club Introduces’ channel on YouTube featuring a variety of women sharing their thoughts and memories.
If you’d like to make a short video sharing your own experience of Shakespeare, upload it to Instagram or TikTok and tag me in with @shakespeareladies