Shakespeare is forbidden, we hear (4)
I believe the answer is:
bard
'shakespeare' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'forbidden we hear' is the wordplay.
'forbidden' becomes 'barred' (barring is a kind of forbidding).
'we hear' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'barred' is a homophone of 'BARD'.
'is' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for bard that I've seen before include "Celtic poet" , "Animal; cruel person" , "Shakespeare" , "Eisteddfod winner" , "Poet - prophet" .)