William Kemp's Nine Days wonder

William Kemp, who died in London on 2 November 1603, and is buried in St Saviour’s, Southwark was an actor, comic and dancer and he was one of the original players in William Shakespeare’s early dramas. The most famous role that he played was that of Sir John Falstaff.

Kemp’s most famous roles was that of Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing and Peter in Romeo and Juliet, he also appeared as Costard in Love’s Labours Lost, Bottom in A Midsummer Nights Dream, Lancelot Gobbo in The Merchant of Venice and Cob in Ben Jonsons Every Man in his Humour.

In February and March 1600 Kemp Morris danced from London to Norwich which took him nine days over several weeks. He published a book later in the year to prove to his doubters that it all took place.