"All the world’s a stage, "And all the men and women merely players"

Some of course, are not merely players, some are Simon Callow. And when Mr Callow - writer, director and master actor - steps onto the Windsor theatre royal stage with Shakespeare’s famous words, there is a deliciously expectant hush.

Unfortunately, this delicious hush of expectancy soon descends into quiet interest (and right down to silent slumber for the gentleman in front of me) as what unfolds is not an evening of acting but a wordy lecture, albeit delivered by a superb orator, on the life of Shakespeare.

Don’t get me wrong, it is very interesting. Did you know that Shakespeare invented the word ‘puking’? And that his father was a glovemaker from Sniffingdon? Or, indeed, that Shakespeare first step into the theatre was as a valet parking service for rich men’s horses? Such nuggets are delivered in inspiring baritone and peppered with quotes and examples that would have got a nice red tick from any English teacher.

But is it a play?

Although the desperate attempts at theatricality attempt to prove otherwise - a burning fire suddenly appears from nowhere during one monologue, then what looks like a sand leak from the ceiling drifts down during the closing moments – the show is written by leading academic Jonathan Bate and reminded me too much of fighting to stay awake in my university lecture hall.

Bu then Callow disappears into a monologue and the atmosphere electrifies. He climbs up onto his rostra to deliver a striding speech from Julius Caesar and the audience holds it breath as he is transformed and you tingle, feeling every subtle emotional nuance. Callow is just magical when he comes to life. But then, alas, he rumbles back into biographer mode and the moment is lost.

The subject is fascinating, the words well-researched and well-written, but even Callow’s superb moments of magic cannot prevent this boggy essay sinking below expectations. Dramatic lecture? Yes. A performance? No.

The show runs from Tuesday 6th to Saturday 10th July at the Theatre Royal Windsor. Tickets are £10 - £26.50 and are available from the box office on 01753 853888. Shows Monday-Saturday 8pm, Thursday 2.30pm and Saturday 4.45pm.

www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk