DRAMA . 2005 . 1h 26m . 4.8/10

A Waste of Shame_

"A mystery in Shakespeare's sonnets is explored."

In 1609, William Shakespeare published a collection of 154 sonnets, creating what is arguably the greatest lyric sequence in English literature - and at the center of this masterpiece lies a mystery that has endured for centuries. What are the identities of “the young man” and “the dark lady” to whom all but two of the sonnets allude? This moving performance brings to life the gritty reality of Shakespeare’s England, bits of the Bard’s plays and poems, and the consummate poet and dramatist himself as it exposes these personages unseen but so keenly felt in Shakespeare’s sonnets and in his life. Rupert Graves, Tom Sturridge, Indira Varma, Anna Chancellor, and Zoë Wanamaker star. Contains mature themes and explicit language. Some content may be objectionable. Produced by the Open University.

Starring Rupert Graves, Tom Sturridge, Indira Varma
4.8/10
Rating
1h 26m
Runtime
2005
Year
Updated Feb 16, 2026
A Waste of Shame poster
A mystery in Shakespeare's sonnets is explored.

In 1609, William Shakespeare published a collection of 154 sonnets, creating what is arguably the greatest lyric sequence in English literature - and at the center of this masterpiece lies a mystery that has endured for centuries. What are the identities of “the young man” and “the dark lady” to whom all but two of the sonnets allude? This moving performance brings to life the gritty reality of Shakespeare’s England, bits of the Bard’s plays and poems, and the consummate poet and dramatist himself as it exposes these personages unseen but so keenly felt in Shakespeare’s sonnets and in his life. Rupert Graves, Tom Sturridge, Indira Varma, Anna Chancellor, and Zoë Wanamaker star. Contains mature themes and explicit language. Some content may be objectionable. Produced by the Open University.

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DROPTHE_ GOSSIP

Cast
Rupert Graves stars as William Shakespeare in A Waste of Shame.
Rupert Graves →
Year context
A Waste of Shame was released 21 years ago in 2005.
Overview
In 1609, William Shakespeare published a collection of 154 sonnets, creating what is arguably the greatest lyric sequence in English literature - and at the ...
A Waste of Shame is a Drama, TV Movie, History film with a runtime of 1h 26m.

DETAILS

Release
Status
Released
Runtime
86 min (1h 26m)
Country
Rating
4.8/10 (9 votes)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is A Waste of Shame about?
In 1609, William Shakespeare published a collection of 154 sonnets, creating what is arguably the greatest lyric sequence in English literature - and at the center of this masterpiece lies a mystery that has endured for centuries. What are the identities of “the young man” and “the dark lady” to whom all but two of the sonnets allude? This moving performance brings to life the gritty reality of Shakespeare’s England, bits of the Bard’s plays and poems, and the consummate poet and dramatist himself as it exposes these personages unseen but so keenly felt in Shakespeare’s sonnets and in his life. Rupert Graves, Tom Sturridge, Indira Varma, Anna Chancellor, and Zoë Wanamaker star. Contains mature themes and explicit language. Some content may be objectionable. Produced by the Open University.
How long is A Waste of Shame?
A Waste of Shame has a runtime of 86 minutes (1h 26m).
Who stars in A Waste of Shame?
The cast of A Waste of Shame includes Rupert Graves, Tom Sturridge, Indira Varma, Zoë Wanamaker, Anna Chancellor.
What is the rating of A Waste of Shame?
A Waste of Shame has a rating of 4.8 out of 10 based on 9 votes on TMDB.

GENRES (3)

Drama TV Movie History
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