Dr Mel Evans introduces extracts from Queen Elizabeth I’s letters read by Hannah Perrin, a member of the University of Birmingham’s Shakespeare Institute Players, with the guidance of Jose A. Perez Diez, Co-President of the Shakespeare Institute Players and Doctoral Researcher at the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham. The first letter was written in July 31st 1548 to Elizabeth’s stepmother, Katherine Parr, to wish her a safe delivery in pregnancy. The second letter was written in 1586 to James VI of Scotland, who was Elizabeth's godson. This letter was part of a long exchange spanning nearly 20 years. Mel explains: ‘She tried to manage the political situation in Scotland by trying to persuade him personally through letters.’

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