Well, today is as everyone should know International Women's Day and what better way to celebrate and commemorate this important international event than to look at Shakespeare's representation of women in his plays. For example the identity of "The Dark Lady" in his Sonnets sequence? For a number of centuries Shakespearean academics have pondered over the identity of two people who strongly influenced his poems, namely the Sonnets published in 1609. The two in question were his secret muse and a young man known as the "fair youth", speculations have since run rife. Numerous candidates have been suggested such as Queen Elizabeth 1st, Jean davenant, Emilia Lanier and Anne Vavasour. Qudos Academy examines the enigmas and the scandal that might have rocked the "Bard of Avon".

“Shakespeare’s Nemesis”
Based on Chris Lautaris's recent book, "Shakespeare & the Countess of Southampton", this is the inside story of a Puritan woman who brought down Shakespeare's career as a playwright in the London theatres.
 

Shakespeare’s “She-Wolves” Part One
Qudos Academy investigates the prevailing attitude of Shakespeare towards those strong women who influenced his plays and poetry.

Shakespeare’s “She Wolves” Part Two 
The life and times of a warrior shepherdess, Joan of Arc. Qudos Academy investigates the prevailing attitude of Shakespeare towards those strong women who influenced his plays and poetry. A big shout out to all the strong women of Afghanistan, young and old who are peacefully protesting against a brutal and repressive regime who, under the auspices of religious doctrines are daily robbing them of their freedom to wear what they want. How absurd and petty can a government become when one hundred and fifty people have died for that kind of freedom?
 

And finally:

Mary Queen of Scots, (Part One)
The tragic but intriguing story of the life and troubling events of Mary Stuart who came from the French royal court, became the Queen of Scotland and after abdicating was then imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth 1st.

Mary Queen of Scots, (Part Two)
The second part of the tragic but intriguing story of the life and troubling events of Mary Stuart.

The characterisation and portrayal of women by Shakespeare is often quite contentious if for example we examine the spectrum of feminine roles in "Antony & Cleopatra" whereby the Empress of Egypt is contrasted with the Emperor of Rome, "Julius Caesar" or the role of women in the legal profession eg: "The Merchant of Venice" and their domestic or marital life in "The Taming of a Shrew" and their domination of their husbands in "Macbeth". The subject of the abuse of women by powerful or charismatic men is obviously explored in the true story of "The Rape of Lucrezia" which played a key role in the Republic of Rome eg: The Rape of the Sabine Women- a sort of state sexual exploitation, perhaps very little has changed since the founding of Rome?