Classics in Graphics: Shakespeare's Hamlet

As 50% of the Two Steves, Steve Barlow has written over 160 books with Steve Skidmore since their first appeared in 1988. Born in Crewe, he was educated at Crewe Grammar School, Warwick University and Nottingham University before a varied career in teaching, acting, stage management and puppetry. He worked in a village school in Botswana for four years before returning to the UK. The Two Steves have toured extensively in the UK and overseas, and to book festivals including Edinburgh and Hay. Their work for Hachette includes the popular I Hero choose-your-adventure books, and Classics in Graphics. Steve Skidmore writes with Steve Barlow as Britain's most popular comedy writing and performing double act for young people - The 2 Steves! Steve Skidmore is shorter than Steve Barlow and less hairy. He was born in Birstall near Leicester in England. He went to Nottingham University to read English, but spent most of his time playing sport and doing a variety of jobs including counting pastry pie lids. He trained as a teacher of Drama, English and Film, before teaming up with Steve Barlow as a full-time author. He lives in Leicester and is a great rugby fan (Come on you Tiiigeeers!). Alessandro was born in February 1980 in a beautiful little place called Castiglione della Pescaia, just by the sea. He studied in Florence and graduated with A Bachelor's degree from prestigious "Accademia delle Belle Arti" as a set designer. Before going to university, when he was a child, Alessandro started drawing by copying comics and illustrations from books. He believes that's the main reason he is able to tackle multiple styles and enjoys a challenge each respective style brings. He worked as a cartoonist, illustrator and concept artist (his favourite), with traditional and digital media. Alessandro also won a prize for his comic called "Lagrimas en la lluvia", featured as the best comic book publication published in Spain in 2011. He lives and works in Siena, with his wife and baby, and a crazy cat. Edu Rubio is a self-taught artist born in Mexico City. He has participated in more than 60 group exhibitions and 18 solo exhibitions in galleries, museums and art fairs in America, Europe and Asia as a painter and traditional draftsman, as well as a teacher. It was in Mexico when he began to investigate digital art production. In 2008 he moved to Madrid where, as a result of experimenting with digital media, he ventured into the world of editorial and advertising illustration. His work as an illustrator has been published by major European publishers as well as several brands. He currently lives between Madrid and a small mountain village in the province of Avila, where he can draw all day, eat well and breathe fresh air.

1: William Shakespeare: The Man, the Actor, the Author
2: Hamlet – The Play


1: List of Main Characters: Dramatis Personae
2: Act One
3: Act Two
4: Act Three
5: Act Four
6: Act Five


3: Storytelling in Hamlet
4: Hamlet Sources
5: Themes in Hamlet
6: Shakespeare’s Language
7: Fun Facts
8: Publication
9: Performing the Play!
10: Deadly Serious Fact
11: The Theatre
12: Glossary