The 5th of November was
established as a day of public
thanksgiving by Parliament in
1606 and is still celebrated today with “Bonfire Night” which
includes fireworks, bonfires,
and the burning of dolls meant
to represent Guy Fawkes. It
is thought of by many as the
founding event of the modern
England.
According to the playwright in
the play’s opening notes, “The
only thing we know with cer-
tainty about the event itself is
that it could not possibly have
occurred in the way the government claimed.” Equivocation is
presented as a plausible alternative for the official story provided by the government and told
for over 400 years.
When first approached with the
project, Shakespeare is reluctant
to take on the work. He tells the
Prime Minister that, “We don’t
do current events. We do histories. True histories of the past.”
“5 Things Americans Don’t Know About The Gunpowder Plot”
NewJerseyStage.com
2015 - ISSUE 9
24