Kathryn Hunter is about to play the RSC’s first Lady Timon of Athens and next year the Globe is staging Richard II with a company of women of colour. Here’s a look back at some of the many actresses who have taken major male roles in Shakespeare’s plays

William Shakespeare, play The Tempest, act 3 scene 1 Ferdinand professing love to Miranda, 'the very instant that I saw you did my heart fly to your service' postcard