THE DEATH WARRANT Of CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE

Pederasty. Espionage. Rebellion. Assassination... Christopher Marlowe's CV is the most dramatic in English literature.

A precocious genius born in the same year as Shakespeare - 1564 - his career was over just as Shakespeare's was beginning. Everything he wrote was imitated by Shakespeare, who was haunted by the memory of his murdered friend. Marlowe remains by far and away the most obvious candidate for the 'rival poet' of Shakespeare's sonnets.. 

Recruited by the Privy Council as a spy whilst still at Cambridge, Marlowe had friends in the highest of places, but turned against his masters. A hellraiser and atheist, his "monstrous opinions" outraged the authorities, from his 'all protestants are hypocritical asses" to 

"all they that love not tobacco and boys are fools". 

McDevitt will tell the story of the 'Dutch Church Libel' and how it precipitated a chain of events that led to Marlowe's murder within a month. 

February was the month of Marlowe's birth, though his birthday is unknown. Join us on the afternoons of Sat Feb 3, Sat Feb 10, Sat Feb 17 and Sat Feb 24 for a thorough investigation into the extrajudicial execution of an English poet. 

Meeting 1pm outside Bank Station at the beginning of Threadneedle Street. Buy tickets here.