The first reference to Shakespeare came in 1592 by a rival playwright, indicating that Shakespeare was an established figure.
Records show that "The Comedy of Errors" was performed in 1594, but clues within the play indicate that it was written at least two years earlier.
Shakespeare began his career as a playwright during the latter years of the Elizabethan age. Thomas Kyd and Christopher Marlowe were among his contemporaries.
While many scholars believe that "The Comedy of Errors" was Shakespeare's first play, others, such as critic Harold Bloom, believe that "Henry VI" was his first, contending that "The Comedy of Errors" is a much more sophisticated composition.
Within a decade the amateur Shakespeare transformed into perhaps the greatest writer in English. He wrote his masterpieces after the turn of the 17th century.