On a recent visit to Shakespeare's Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, I spent some time looking around the new Hall of Fame. Some classic names have earned a rightful place including Ben Jonson and David Garrick. Some modern faces have also found their way into the Hall of Fame: David Tennant for his groundbreaking RSC performance of Hamlet, Kenneth Branagh for bringing the Bard to the big screen ... and even Leonardo DiCaprio for making Shakespeare cool.

Just take a look at the full list of names chosen by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

I can't help but think that there are a few notable absences! Where on earth is Peter Brook? As one of our greatest Shakespeare directors, he surely deserves a place. His production of A Midsummer Night's Dream is still remembered as one of the RSC's defining moments four decades on.

Should Leonardo DiCaprio have been selected over Peter Brook? Surely not! And don't even get me started on the absence of John Gielgud and Peggy Ashcroft.

I'd like to hear who would be in your list of greats - please visit our hall of fame and add your own names.

Photo © Lee Jamieson

Shakespeare's writing has secured the careers of many actors. For example, Laurence Olivier made his career with Hamlet as did Judi Dench with Lady Macbeth. But some roles simply don't have enough meat to be career breaking roles.

Take Juliet for example. Despite this being an iconic role, few actresses have made their name playing her. Perhaps this is because she's so young and must be played by a correspondingly young and less experienced actress.

Personally, I believe that Juliet is emotionally naive - there's not a great deal of emotional "meat" for an actress to get her teeth into.

However, my theory could be turned on his head with a new production of Romeo and Juliet at the Bristol Old Vic in the UK. This new production will retell the classic love story with elderly lovers in Verona's residential care homes.

I think this will be a real opportunity to see new depths in one of Shakespeare's most iconic characters. But which of our great actresses would you like to see in the role? (tip: Judi Dench is busy!)

Photo © NYPL Digital Galley

Initial tests for a full-scale excavation of the site of Shakespeare's final home in Stratford-upon-Avon are due to start today. It is hoped that this ambitious project could reveal new archaeological evidence about the Bard's final years before his death in 1616.

Shakespeare's final home was called New Place, but the house was demolished in 1759 and never rebuilt. Today, the site is owned by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and plays host to a beautiful Elizabethan garden.

Experts from Birmingham Archaeology in the UK believe that the remains of the old house are still buried beneath the gardens and it is hoped that the initial tests will lead to a full-scale archaeological dig in 2010.

Shakespeare purchased New Place in 1597, at which time the house was already over 100 years old. In around 1610, he retired from London to Stratford-upon-Avon and took up full-time residency for the final six years of his life.

I will of course be following any developments that arise from this dig. Although we're only in the early stages, I hope that this ambitious project reveals new insights into the life of the world's greatest and most popular playwright.

Watch this blog to follow developments or subscribe to my weekly Shakespeare newsletter.

Photo © Lee Jamieson

It all seems so long ago now that I blogged about the Hamlet skull. David Tennant was one of the RSC's best-ever Hamlets, tickets were impossible to acquire and hordes of Shakespeare newbies were discovering Hamlet for the first time.

Well, now that Shakespeare buzz is back as Tennant is reunited with that skull for a BBC film version of the RSC's production. And once again a real skull will feature in the production. The RSC's Hamlet skull was bequeathed by pianist, Andre Tchaikowsky, who loved Shakespeare and wanted to star as Yorick forevermore.

As it transpires, Tchaikowsky's skull has been used in every performance of Hamlet, despite the RSC claiming that a fake would be used when the production transferred from Stratford-upon-Avon to London.

I can't wait to see Tennant and Tchaikowsky reunited on screen - and I suspect that a whole new generation of Doctor Who loving fans will be discovering Shakespeare for the first time. Good times await.

Photo © Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images