William "Bill" Shakespeare

William "Bill" Shakespeare, played by Mathew Baynton, is the protagonist and namesake of this movie.

Biography
As an idealistic man from Stratford-upon-Avon struggling to find his place in the world, Bill dreams big about his future in the arts.

The movie begins as his career in the band 'Mortal Coil' ends. We see him being kicked out of the group after going rogue mid set. The other members disapprove of his attempts to show off his lute playing skills, and tell him that perhaps he is destined for something else.

He doesn't stay down for long, as he decides to move forward with his dream of becoming a famous playwright instead.

For him to succeed with this new dream, he is required to move to London. His wife, Anne, does not approve of this and refuses to go with him. Bill leaves for London anyway, leaving Anne and their 3 children behind.

Trivia

 * He seems adamant about having a career in the arts, with his past career attempts include acting and interpretative dance. (however this is not explicitly stated)
 * Early in the movie, it is stated that he is 30 years old.