When did William Shakespeare decide to write plays?

William Shakespeare likely did not have a single moment when he decided to write plays. Instead, his interest in theater and playwriting likely developed gradually over time as he was exposed to the dramatic arts. Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, a town in Warwickshire, England, in 1564. During his teenage years, he attended Stratford Grammar School, where he would have studied Latin and the works of Roman playwrights such as Plautus and Seneca. It's possible that his exposure to these classical plays sparked his initial interest in drama. Additionally, Stratford-upon-Avon had a long tradition of traveling theater companies performing there, which could have further piqued Shakespeare's interest in the theater, eventually motivating him to become a playwright.