Seasons & Episodes
Season 1
10 episodes
E01
The Play's the Thing
It's 1589, a time of religious turmoil in Protestant England when to be Catholic could be a death sentence - Will Shakespeare arrives from the small town of Stratford to the wild streets of London with little more than a dream and a treacherous letter…
E02
Cowards Die Many Times
Will is wracked with guilt over the arrest of the rival playwright, Baxter, and he makes a dangerous confession to the beautiful and rebellious Alice. The future of the theatre is threatened when the crowd-pleasing actor, Kemp, is tempted by another playhouse.
E03
The Two Gentlemen
Will has an epiphany, which could lead him to success but he needs Alice's help. A charismatic fugitive from Will's past burdens him with a dangerous obligation.
E04
Brave New World
Marlowe introduces Will to the decadent elite of London, but things take a macabre turn; Alice becomes disillusioned; Will must fight for all that he holds dear.
E05
The Marriage of True Minds
An unexpected arrival sends Will's world spinning; a transcendental experience leads Marlowe to deal with his past; Topcliffe deciphers a code that throws Will into a life-and-death situation.
E06
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Tensions rise as Will and Alice continue to collaborate, while Anne attempts to adjust to London life. Love forces Marlowe to confront his darkest fears. Presto is forced to confront true evil.
E07
What Dreams May Come
With the theatre in jeopardy, Will enlists the help of a beautiful and talented friend. Alice turns to Southwell for comfort and an existential crisis leads Marlowe back to the dubious Edward Kelly.
E08
Your Houses
Will is shocked to learn of Alice's new passion. Haunted by his inability to write, Marlowe embarks on a self-destructive path. Plague haunts London, and Richard discovers what he believes in.
E09
Play the Devil
To write his new play, Will must confront Topcliffe. To achieve greatness Richard must tell his father a harsh truth. Alice contemplates a perilous mission.
E10
Once, Bright Angel
Will and the company are shocked by a terrible discovery; they must risk everything in a life and death struggle for survival.
Laurie Davidson
as William Shakespeare
Olivia DeJonge
as Alice Burbage
Colm Meaney
as James Burbage
Mattias Inwood
as Richard Burbage
Jamie Campbell Bower
as Christopher Marlowe
Ewen Bremner
as Richard Topcliffe
William Houston
as Kemp
Lukas Rolfe
as Presto
Max Bennett
as Robert Southwell
