Episode 1

Robert McCrum journeys across America tracing the origins of the country's love affair with Shakespeare. He finds Americans of all ages, races and classes who feel Shakespeare gives them a voice to express very real concerns about contemporary politics and society. He watches Henry V in Nashville set during the Civil War, sees Shakespeare performed two blocks from the US Congress where issues of politics and leadership play out both on stage and on the senate floor with an audience made up of power brokers. He meets Stephen Sondheim and actor Alec Baldwin, both great Shakespeare lovers to discuss what still makes him relevant today

Producer: Maggie Ayre.