Shakespeare North wants to celebrate the Elizabethan heritage of the Borough of Knowsley near Liverpool and aims to bring Shakespearean theatre back to the area that nurtured its growth. The support and patronage of the Earl of Derby at Knowsley Hall enabled Shakespeare to begin a career which would make him the world's greatest playwright. The summer seasons at Knowsley allowed Lord Strange's Men to hone and perfect their acting craft.

Shakespeare North aims to make Knowsley once again a place where actors, writers, artists, students and young people will be able to study and practice the plays of Shakespeare. A place which will attract scholars, students and visitors from all over the world.

To achieve this vision Shakespeare North has bold ambitions. It will build again The Playhouse in Prescot where over four hundred years ago some of Shakespeare’s most famous lines would have first been heard.

The Playhouse will be the core of a new International University College, the first of its kind focusing upon Shakespearean performance practice. Students from across the globe will enjoy the privilege of studying and performing his work in the very place where Shakespeare himself learned his craft.

Shakespeare North is supported by leading figures from the theatre, politics, business and academia. From Government to regional authorities, from leading industrial figures to luminaries from the world of entertainment, it brings together the expertise of distinguished figures from across the spectrum of British life.