Reader Event – Will the REAL William Shakespeare please stand up?

‘The Steeple Times’ invites you to a discussion dinner with ‘The Truth Will Out’ filmmaker Amanda Eliasch, filmmaker Cheryl Eagan-Donovan and actor Ron Destro on Thursday 23^rd October 2025; the question proposed will be “Will the REAL William Shakespeare please stand up?”

• Join Matthew Steeples of The Steeple Times on 23^rd October for a conversation with Amanda Eliasch, director of the forthcoming feature documentary The Truth Will Out.
• Also on the panel will be the filmmaker Cheryl Eagan-Donovan and Ron Destro, an actor and founding director of the Oxford Shakespeare Company.
• A discussion and questions focused on “Will the REAL William Shakespeare please stand up?” shall be followed by a 3-course dinner at PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie, London, SW3.

Matthew Steeples invites you to PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie in London for an evening where director, writer and producer Amanda Eliasch, filmmaker Cheryl Eagan-Donovan and actor and founding director of the Oxford Shakespeare Company, Ron Destro, will discuss two enduring myths crafted to serve political and cultural agendas: that of the virginity of Queen Elizabeth I and the true authorship of William Shakespeare’s works.

Amanda Eliasch is an English artist whose career has spanned photography, poetry, film and theatre. She champions the theory that Edward de Vere, the 17^th Earl of Oxford authored Shakespeare’s works and explores such in her forthcoming documentary film The Truth Will Out. Eliasch’s fellow panellists for this event, themselves both respected experts in this field, Cheryl Eagan-Donovan and Ron Destro, will join her to discuss the ‘elephant in the room’ that has intrigued many for so long; did William Shakespeare actually pen the plays attributed to him or was the real writer hiding under the radar?

On 23^rd October at PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie – following on from evenings with amongst others Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York author Andrew Lownie and Manhunt and Crime Suspect host Peter Bleksley – guests will get to enjoy a delicious 3-course dinner after 45-minutes of conversation and questions about the enigma best known as the ‘Bard of Avon’. The £75 per person ticket price includes a glass of Prosecco on arrival and half a bottle of either red or white wine per person also.

To book your tickets…

TIMINGS

• The event will be held on Thursday 23^rd October 2025.
• Arrivals for Prosecco in a private setting on the first floor of PJ’s from 6.30pm.
• Matthew Steeples in conversation with Amanda Eliasch, Cheryl Eagan-Donovan and Ron Destro at 7pm prompt with audience questions to follow for 45 minutes.
• 3-course dinner, with options for those with particular dietary requirements, with wine to follow.
• After dinner, guests will be welcome to continue discussions downstairs at the legendary PJ’s bar for further cocktails and conversation.

ADDRESS

• The event is to be held at PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie, 52 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 6HH.
• The nearest London Underground station is South Kensington (District, Circle and Piccadilly lines); it is located just 5 minutes away on foot.
• The event is to be held on the first floor of the building; access is by staircase only.

PAYMENT FOR TICKETS AND BOOKING QUERIES

Deadline for booking – Wednesday 22^nd October 2025 at 6pm; tickets can only be purchased in advance and guest names must be supplied for allocated place settings.

Tickets can be purchased at a rate of £75 per person. Please make payment by bank transfer to:

• Bank: Barclays Bank
• Account Name: Longreach Publishing Limited
• Sort Code: 20-90-74
• Account Number: 63608697
• IBAN: GB13BUKB20907463608697
• SWIFTBIC: BUKB
• Please reference payments “SHAKESPEARE” and include your surname also to aid our record keeper.

Should you have any queries of questions, please contact Jane Monckton at [email protected]

SET MENU – 3 course dinner, Thursday 23^rd October 2025

The ticket price includes a glass of Prosecco on arrival, ½ a bottle of either red or white wine per person and a choice of one of each of the following:

STARTERS

SEARED TUNA wasabi & avocado purée, toasted sesame seeds, yuzu and soy dressing

SCOTCH BEEF CARPACCIO wild rocket, parmesan, mustard dressing

BURRATINA shaved truffle, baby plum tomatoes, rocket, toasted focaccia

CRISPY FRIED ARTICHOKES caper and herb mayonnaise

MAINS

THE PJ’S BURGER 8oz patty, mature cheddar cheese, bacon, iceberg lettuce, pickle, smoked crackling mayonnaise, fries

CHICKEN MILANESE wild rocket, artichoke & Reggio cheese salad, toasted sesame, tahini honey dressing

GRILLED SEABASS FILLET French beans, cherry tomatoes, black olives & pesto

ROAST CAULIFLOWER STEAK chickpeas and roasted red pepper, chipotle hummus, chimichurri

PUDDINGS

CLASSIC CRÈME BRULEE

BELGIAN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE

CHOCOLATE & VANILLA CHEESECAKE white chocolate sauce, mixed berry compote

SELECTION OF SORBETS & ICE CREAMS three scoops