Beyond Shakespeare
This podcast explores the vast world of English drama from its earliest beginnings up to the closure of the theatres in 1642, focusing on plays that are not by Shakespeare. It features full audio productions of these often overlooked or unknown plays, shedding light on the theatrical landscape that influenced dramatic history.
Episodes
439: Band, Cuff, and Ruff (Full Cast Audio Adaptation)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsThis week you're getting another university comedy! It's A Merry Dialogue between Band, Cuff and Ruff by the Unknown. It was printed in 1615 and probably performed a year or so earlier by students at Cambridge. More of this kind of thing is on the way!Band, Cuff and Ruff is about different detailing in clothing, and
438: Discussing: Predramatic Theatre
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsThis month we've discussing a new book by Eleanor Rycroft and Greg Walker - Predramatic Theatre: The Radicalism of Early British Performance. It's a book that connects strongly with our practical work on early theatre, as well as engagements with ideas of the postdramatic in some of our performances. If that sounds
437: The Pardoner and the Friar by John Heywood (LIVE Archive Recording)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsWelcome to our live stage recording of The Pardoner and the Friar by John Heywood. It's not designed as an audio adaptation, this is simply recorded from a distance on stage. However, it is hopefully of some use. It was recorded as part of our Entertaining Henry season on Sunday 22nd June 2025 at the Quay Theatre, S
423: Doctor John Faustus (Chapter 27)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original texts The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus, is the book that is the source for Christopher Marlowe's play. Chapter by chapter we will wander through the twists and turns of this story.Chapter Twenty-Seven: How Doctor Faustus was asked a question concerning the Stars that fall from he
432: Eastward Ho! (Epilogue)
For some reason lost to history, we totally forgot to release this episode!This episode covers the epilogue to Eastward Ho! by Ben Jonson, George Chapman and John Marston - though not necessarily in that order. First Look exploring sessions to this and the other Ho! plays are available.This epilogue is performed by Fiona Thraille, the host is Robert CrightonYou can also hear the prologue, or dive
435: Thersites attributed to Nicholas Udall (LIVE Archive Recording)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsWelcome to our live stage recording of Thersites attributed to Nicholas Udall, from a dialogue by Joannes Ravisius Textor. It's not designed as an audio adaptation, this is simply recorded from a distance on stage. However, it is hopefully of some use. It was recorded as part of our Entertaining Henry season on Sund
434: Discussing: Jocasta with Dr Carla Suthren
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsToday we're having a chat with Dr Carla Suthren about the play Jocasta translated by George Gascoigne, Francis Kinwelmersh and Christopher Yelverton from Ludovico Dolce's Giocasta, which was homeopathically connected to Euripides Phoenician Women. Performed around 1566, it was created by students of Gray's Inn. Dr S
433: Gentleness and Nobility (LIVE Archive Recording)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsWelcome to our live stage recording of Gentleness and Nobility by John Heywood with John Rastell (though we've probably cut most Rastell from this edit). It's not designed as an audio adaptation, this is simply recorded from a distance on stage. However, it is a fairly complete recording and hopefully of some use. I
422: Doctor John Faustus (Chapter 26)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original texts The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus, is the book that is the source for Christopher Marlowe's play. Chapter by chapter we will wander through the twists and turns of this story.Chapter Twenty-Six: How Faustus was asked a question concerning the Spirits that vex men. Our patron
436: Discussing: The Malone Society with Prof Lucy Munro
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsAnd this month it's a chat about our sponsors, The Malone Society, and their work. If you're a free subscriber to our Patreon then you can be entered into our monthly giveaway of a free Malone Society edition each month!The Malone Society publishes editions of early printed and manuscript texts of plays, plus collec
431: The Temptation by John Bale (LIVE Archive Recording)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsWelcome to our live stage recording of The Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness by John Bale. It's not designed as an audio adaptation, this is simply recorded from a distance on stage. However, it is a fairly complete recording and hopefully of some use. It was recorded as part of our Entertaining Henry season on
430: Discussing: Tancred and Gismunda with Isobel Strevens
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsAnd this week it's a chat about one of our favourite plays with Isobel Strevens - Tancred and Gismunda by... well, a lot of people. We're oddly fascinated by this very bloody play - BUT do read the content warning below. And there are a lot of spoilers, if you've not encountered the play before.Exploring playlist fo
429: The World and the Child (LIVE Archive Recording)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsWelcome to our live stage recording of The World and the Child, or Mundus et Infans by the Unknown. It's not designed as an audio adaptation, this is simply recorded from a distance on stage. However, it is a fairly complete recording and hopefully of some use. It was recorded as part of our Entertaining Henry seaso
421: Doctor John Faustus (Chapter 25)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original texts The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus, is the book that is the source for Christopher Marlowe's play. Chapter by chapter we will wander through the twists and turns of this story.Chapter Twenty-Five: A question put forth to Doctor Faustus concerning the stars. Our patrons also
428: Unattached Fragments | Part 1 (Fragments)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsIt's the first of an epic (yet dinky) 18 part series looking at some fragments found in The English Treasury of Wit and Language by John Cotgrave. This is a fairly chunky opening gambit, with the preface to the book, before our usual drive by at a short bit of text.You can find a version of the text at archive.org.
427: Arden of Faversham (Full Cast Audio Adaptation)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsThis is a simpler live mix of the show, with a few edits and some additional sound effects, but without the addition of too much soundscaping. This was partly a response to the recording I had in play, but also it meant I could clear it a bit sooner. Content warnings below.Recorded live at the White Bear Theatre on
Discussing: Pre-Modern Drama on the Radio
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsWelcome to this chat with Dr Andrea Smith, author of Sh********e on the Radio: A Century of BBC Plays, where we discuss elements of her book and dance more generally about the challenges in producing audio drama, radio drama, and adapting the early modern stage for sound. We had a lot of fun chatting, and I hope you
425: Discussing: Edward II by Christopher Marlowe (Production Preview)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsThis is hot off the press this week, as it's a quick chat about an upcoming production of Edward II by Christopher Marlowe, performing at the Brockley Jack and produced by Alex Pearson Productions in association with Glass Splinters. This chat is with Natalie Harper and Alex Pearson.Tickets can be bought here! https
420: Doctor John Faustus (Chapter 24)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsThe History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus, is the book that is the source for Christopher Marlowe's play. Chapter by chapter we will wander through the twists and turns of this story.Chapter Twenty-Four: Of a certain comet that appeared in Germany, and how Doctor Faustus was desired
425: A Scene from James the Fourth by Robert Greene (And... Scene!)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsAnd Scene! This is random scene from James the Fourth by Robert Greene, recorded live at our Revels season on Thursday 14th December 2023. Enter a Lawyer, a Merchant, and a Divine, to ask questions of current affairs – current affairs of the world of the play, and presumably of around 1590, when Greene wrote the pla
425: The Interlude of Youth (LIVE Archive Recording)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original texts Welcome to our live stage recording of The Interlude of Youth by the Unknown. It's not designed as an audio adaptation, this is simply recorded from a distance on stage. However, it is a fairly complete recording and hopefully of some use. It was recorded as part of our Entertaining Henry season on Friday 20th June
418: Discussing: The Interlude of Youth with Dr Jeff S. Dailey
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original texts This is a chat with Dr Jeff S. Dailey who produced the play The Interlude of Youth (1513) in New York in August 2025. As we also produced the play in the summer of 2025, we had a good natter about the challenges of making this play work. We're in the middle of archiving our work on the play and the rest of the Ent
410: 'Play of the Saxons' (Fragment)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsPlay of the Saxons by the Unknown - a fragment of probably not dialogue from a probably lost play. It is perhaps more accurately described as an heckling incident.This fragment can be found in the REED Bristol volume, and on the Lost Plays Database. If you’d like more on the Wine Street Theatre there is Callan Davie
419: Doctor John Faustus (Chapter 23)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsThe History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus, is the book that is the source for Christopher Marlowe's play. Chapter by chapter we will wander through the twists and turns of this story.This was a tricky episode to record, as I had made a decision to use a specific version of the text w
415: A Scene from Fair Em (And... Scene!)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsAnd Scene! This is random scene from Fair Em, the Miller’s Daughter of Manchester by the Unknown, though recently attributed to Thomas Kyd – make of that what you will. It was recorded live at our Winter Revels season on Thursday 14th December 2023. It is a dialogue between the Miller, with his daughter Fair Em, abo
414: Dido, Queen of Carthage by Christopher Marlowe (Full Cast Audio Adaptation)
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsIt's finally here, the full cast audio adaptation of Dido, Queen of Carthage by Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Nashe* It was recorded live, so there are some technical issues, but otherwise it has mixed reasonably well. There are some minor cuts, but we have endeavoured to retain most of the text.Sojourner Hazelwood
413: Discussing: A Game at Chess by Thomas Middleton
Beyond is sponsored by The Malone Society: The permanent utility of original textsBecause we thought you just didn't have enough on A Game at Chess from this podcast, here's a chat about a staged reading of A Game at Chess with Annie Charlton and Elizabeth Elsworth of York S********** Project.You can find out more about their work at https://www.yorkshakespeareproject.org/For anyone interested in
417: Announcement: Our New Sponsor + Sir Thomas More
Two announcements today, our new sponsor, and a little bit more detail about our Sir Thomas More event - tickets for which are now on general sale!Beyond Shakespeare is proud to announce our sponsor for the coming year is the Malone Society, whose works help keep alive the plays we work on. The Malone Society regularly publishes volumes of early plays which otherwise might not be available, and s
412: A Scene from Clyomon and Clymades (And... Scene!)
And Scene! This is random scene from Clyomon and Clymades by the Unknown. It was recorded live at our Winter Revels season on Saturday 16th December 2023. It is a dialogue between Clymades and Juliana – the play is a fun pastiche of romance literature, so is full of pompous adventurers looking to save damsels in rhyming 14ers.With Kit McGuire as Clymades, and Alexandra Katiagida as Julianna.For mo
411: 1570 and All This - Part 3 (Hamlet to Hamilton Crossover)
Here's the last of our two mini seasons of crossover episodes with Emily C A Synder and Colin Kovarik of the Hamlet to Hamilton podcast. It's actually the final episode of five, following on from the two part 1560 and All That which came as a mini set. We have been dancing through texts from the medieval up to the reign of Elizabeth on their podcast, and now we're doing the same over on ours - an
416: Discussing: Sejanus by Ben Jonson
Today we're having a chat with Nathan Winkelstein of Red Bull Theater about their upcoming Revelation Reading of Sejanus by Ben Jonson. Performing in New York, but also live streaming around the world on 26th January 2026 - the recording accessible for the week following. Do support this show, or the following production (in person) of The Roaring Girl, if you can. From their mission statement: "
409: 1570 and All This - Part 2 (Hamlet to Hamilton Crossover)
Here's the second of two mini seasons of crossover episodes with Emily C A Synder and Colin Kovarik of the Hamlet to Hamilton podcast. It's actually the third episode of five, following on from the two part 1560 and All That which came as a mini set. We have been dancing through texts from the medieval up to the reign of Elizabeth on their podcast, and now we're doing the same over on ours - we m
408: End of Year Round Up 2025
It's the end of another year - so much has happened! Entertaining Henry, our Wyrd Revels, so many things... and I cram them into this short episode!Future things links -Live shows, not much I can announce year but next year, we’ll be performing live at the Thomas Nashe and Voice conference (Friday 9th January) - doing Pierce PennilessIt is part of a two-day conference on the writings of Thomas Nas
405: 1570 and All This - Part 1 (Hamlet to Hamilton Crossover)
Here's the second of two mini seasons of crossover episodes with Emily C A Synder and Colin Kovarik of the Hamlet to Hamilton podcast. It's actually second of five, as it follows on from the two part 1560 and All That which came as a mini set. We have been dancing through texts from the medieval up to the reign of Elizabeth on their podcast, and now we're doing the same over on ours - from the end
404: Discussing: 100 Ballads
This is a very late release of a discussion we had last year about the website 100 Ballads, which features over 100 ballads from the early modern period. Go have a look, it's fabulous. https://www.100ballads.org/ With Christopher Marsh, Angela McShane, Andy Watts and host Robert Crighton.Our patrons received this episode in May 2025 - 18 months early!The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is supported by
407: The BIG Vote RESULTS!
The votes are in, we have our winner - and a host of runners up and stats to discuss!Visual charts will be available on our website shortly after this episode drops.Our patrons received this episode a few days ago... you can't keep secrets long.The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is supported by its patrons – become a patron and you get to choose the plays we work on next. Go to www.patreon.com/beyonds
406: Doctor John Faustus (Chapter 22)
The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus, is the book that is the source for Christopher Marlowe's play. Chapter by chapter we will wander through the twists and turns of this story.This was a tricky episode to record, as I had made a decision to use a specific version of the text with very odd versions of place names - I lost all ability to say these places in a
403: Albion Knight - Full Cast Audio (Fragment)
Hello! It's a chunky fragment this week, and one I've been wanted to produce more fully for a long time. A kinda content warning that this episode is about bad actors (in the political sense of the word) deliberately plotting to turn people against each other in a blatant attempt to leverage power. Which is upsetting enough in the real world, let alone in a 500ish year old play.Albion Knight by th
402: Discussing: John Danter with Michelle Michel
After joining us for so many explorations of the cony-catching pamphlets on our patreon channel, we couldn't not ask Michelle Michel to join us to discuss the world of printing and John Danter.In theory we were going to be talking around the play text of Fair Em, the Miller's Daughter of Manchester... and then we mostly didn't! But we did talk about the printing of plays and Danter's part in it a
401: Endgame - Discussing: A Game at Chess (Middleton's Endgame 6)
This is our closing panel discussion from Middleton's Endgame, following a whole day looking at A Game at Chess and the end of Middleton's career, recorded live at The White Bear Theatre on Sunday 11th August 2024. The panel get to grips, finally, with the question of the play itself - not just the history, the scandal, the context, but the actual goddamn play. CW: We will be discussing - quite bl
400: Lord Mayor's Show 1626 (Middleton's Endgame 5)
Welcome to our live recording of the 1626 Lord Mayor's Show - The Triumphs of Health and Prosperity - by Thomas Middleton, performed as part of Middleton's Endgame at The White Bear Theatre on Sunday 11th August 2024. This is Middleton's last performed work before his early death, and so a fitting coda to our look at his last play, A Game at Chess.Introduction by Professor Tracey HillRobert Cright
399: The King's Gambit (Middleton's Endgame 4)
In August 2024, we produced an all day event Middleton’s Endgame: A Game at Chess LIVE! a pop up Middleton festival at The White Bear in Kennington, featuring a live performance of A Game at Chess, discussions of the play, a look at Middleton’s last public work, the 1626 Lord Mayor’s show, and other selections of writing from across his life. The whole event, as ever, was recorded, and we're relea
398: Lord Mayor's Show 1624 - Full Cast Audio Adaptation
Welcome to this full audio adaptation of the 1624 Lord Mayor's Show - The Monuments of Honour by John Webster.This is a playful reconstruction of the show performed on the 29th October 1624. It was a massive civic event created by the city for it’s new Lord Mayor.This reconstruction was SUPPOSED to have been recorded live on the 400th anniversary of the show - but, alas, the production fell throug
397: A Game at Chess by Thomas Middleton LIVE! (Middleton's Endgame 3)
In August 2024, we produced an all day event Middleton’s Endgame: A Game at Chess LIVE! a pop up Middleton festival at The White Bear in Kennington, featuring a live performance of A Game at Chess, discussions of the play, a look at Middleton’s last public work, the 1626 Lord Mayor’s show, and other selections of writing from across his life. The whole event, as ever, was recorded, and we're rele
396: Wyrd Revels Update!
Hello!Just a quick update to remind you of our upcoming Wyrd Revels, a few guest announcements, and the possibility of some live streaming!Beyond Wyrd Revels 2025
Tuesday 21st October at 7.30pm – The Witch of Edmonton by Dekker, Ford & RowleyWednesday 22nd October at 7.30pm – The Wise-woman of Hogston by Thomas HeywoodThursday 23rd October at 7.30pm – Thyestes by Seneca, translated by Jasper H
395: Edward II from the play by Christopher Marlowe (Speech! Speech!)
Speech! Speech! Occasional scenes and speeches from plays, voted for by those you support our work. This is a speech from Edward the Second by Christopher Marlowe, recorded live at our Revels season on Tuesday 11th December 2023. With Simon Mirza Nader as Edward II.For more on Marlowe and his work - https://audioboom.com/playlists/4630963-christopher-marlowe For a playlist covering all his extant
394: A Game at Chess by Thomas Middleton LIVE! (Middleton's Endgame 2)
In August 2024, we produced an all day event Middleton’s Endgame: A Game at Chess LIVE! a pop up Middleton festival at The White Bear in Kennington, featuring a live performance of A Game at Chess, discussions of the play, a look at Middleton’s last public work, the 1626 Lord Mayor’s show, and other selections of writing from across his life. The whole event, as ever, was recorded, and we're rele
393: Doctor John Faustus (Chapter 21)
The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus, is the book that is the source for Christopher Marlowe's play. Chapter by chapter we will wander through the twists and turns of this story.Chapter Twenty-One: How Doctor Faustus was carried through the air up to the heavens to see the whole world, and how the Sky and Planets ruled, after the which he wrote a letter to hi
392: !Spoilers! Dido, Queen of Carthage by Christopher Marlowe (Act 5)
It's time for some !Spoilers! for Act Five of Dido, Queen of Carthage by Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Nashe (discuss attribution with footnotes, please only write on one side of the paper at a time). The play was recorded at The White Bear Theatre on Tuesday 12th December 2023.If you’d like more on this play, there are exploring sessions galore on the YouTube.All our rehearsals, dress run, and r
388: After the Fall - Mirror for Magistrates Post Show Discussion (LIVE)
Recorded live last year, this is the post show discussion of our adaptation of the opening of A Mirror for Magistrates which covers The Fall of Richard II. The audio adaptation is available on the pod now.After the Fall - Post Show DiscussionHosted by Robert Crighton, with Dr Harriet Archer, Professor Thomas Betteridge and Dr Stephen LongstaffeWith readers from the company, Liza Graham and Valenti
389: Diana from The Arraignment of Paris by George Peele (Speech! Speech!)
Speech! Speech! Occasional scenes and speeches from plays, voted for by those you support our work. This is a speech from The Arraignment of Paris by George Peele, recorded live at our Revels season on Saturday 16th December 2023. With Sarah Blake as Diana.For more on the play The Arraignment of Paris visit our playlist on the play - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5rtIlvo8sQ&list=PLflmEwgdfK
386: A Mirror for Magistrates: The Fall of Richard II (LIVE adaptation)
Recorded live last year, this is our adaptation of the opening of A Mirror for Magistrates which covers The Fall of Richard II. We performed it live, and there were a few issues with the recording, so I've kept the edit fairly simple. The adaptation cuts the second poem on The Two Rogers, trims a few verses, and turns into acting dialogue the editorial meeting in the book. There was also a post sh
391: Doctor John Faustus (Chapter 20)
The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus, is the book that is the source for Christopher Marlowe's play. Chapter by chapter we will wander through the twists and turns of this story.Chapter Twenty: How Doctor Faustus desired to see hell, and of the manner how he was used therein Our patrons also get an exploring session looking in detail at the text - join our ch
387: !Spoilers! Dido, Queen of Carthage by Christopher Marlowe (Act 4)
It's time for some !Spoilers! for Act Four of Dido, Queen of Carthage by Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Nashe (discuss attribution with footnotes, please only write on one side of the paper at a time). The play was recorded at The White Bear Theatre on Tuesday 12th December 2023.If you’d like more on this play, there are exploring sessions galore on the YouTube.All our rehearsals, dress run, and r
390: Setting Up the Board - Introducing A Game at Chess (Middleton's Endgame 1)
In August 2024, we produced an all day event Middleton’s Endgame: A Game at Chess LIVE! a pop up Middleton festival at The White Bear in Kennington, featuring a live performance of A Game at Chess, discussions of the play, a look at Middleton’s last public work, the 1626 Lord Mayor’s show, and other selections of writing from across his life. The whole event, as ever, was recorded, and we're rele
385: Faustus to Faustus by Robert Crighton - Part 1: Enter a Devil
One of our follow on projects from the readings of The Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus has been to try and figure out how the process of adaptation from the book to the play might have happened. Coinciding with the Marlowe Society of America's conference in 2024, we pulled together a short play looking at the writing of the opening of the play. The resulting play Faustus to
384: Discussing: Early Modern Horror? with Dr Rebekah King
This week we're discussing... (sinister music plays) Horror, and whether we can sensibly describe some of the early modern and medieval drama as Horror? How far can we push a modern genre onto an older form.Joining me in this discussion is Dr Rebekah King, who graduated from Cambridge with a PhD in English looking at how magicians were depicted on the early modern stage. As well as being a researc
383: !Spoilers! Dido, Queen of Carthage by Christopher Marlowe (Act 3)
It's time for some !Spoilers! for Act Three of Dido, Queen of Carthage by Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Nashe (discuss attribution with footnotes, please only write on one side of the paper at a time). The play was recorded at The White Bear Theatre on Tuesday 12th December 2023.If you’d like more on this play, there are exploring sessions galore on the YouTube.All our rehearsals, dress run, and
382: Doctor John Faustus (Chapter 19)
The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus, is the book that is the source for Christopher Marlowe's play. Chapter by chapter we will wander through the twists and turns of this story.Chapter Nineteen: How Doctor Faustus fell into despair with himself, for having put forth a question unto his spirit, they fell at variance, whereupon the rout of Devils appeared unto
381: Oxford Mystery Cycle 2025 (Behind the Scenes)
We were invited to follow the Behind the Scenes journey of the Oxford Mystery Cycle performed at St Edmund Hall on Saturday, 26 April 2025. This is a mix of cast and audience discussion of the event as it was happening. Many thanks to the organisers for inviting us to wander around the event with microphones. Recorded by Liza Graham and Robert Crighton.Watch the plays here! https://medieval.ox.ac.
380: Wyrd Revels Season Announcement
Hello! It's time for our next Revels season - discount early bird season tickets are now on sale for our wonderful patrons, become a £1 tier patron to get a cheap rate season pass. Or, wait a week, and free subscribers and those one our mailing list get access too.There are four/five plays in the season, all announced on this episode.The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is supported by its patrons – bec
379: Discussing: Leicester's Men & Their Plays with Laurie Johnson
We have a new discussion with Professor Laurie Johnson about Leicester's Men, the playing company that ran throughout the early Elizabethan years of professional playing, whose make up, structure and plays have been difficult to pin down. But luckily, Professor Johnson has written a rather excellent book pinning all these as close to down as we might ever get. This was recorded a year ago - apolog
378: Entertaining Henry (Live Show Updates)
It'll be a bit quiet on the pod this week, as we're doing some live shows - tickets available below - but we thought we should update you on some of the online options for our patrons, which you might want to go for. We're doing a basic live stream of rehearsal runs from Tuesday this week, around 3pm each day - become a patron and grab the link. Otherwise, more on this next week when it's all over
377: Discussing: Snail Fight! with Prof. Liz Oakley-Brown
Professor Liz Oakley-Brown returns to the pod to discuss the play Thersites (c.1537) attributed to Nicholas Udall and based on a dialogue by from Joannes Ravisius Textor - the play features a snail fight, and much more - part of our build up to our season of Henrician drama. This episode was recorded live on zoom on Tuesday 10th June at 7.15pm 2025.For more on the medieval manuscript side of thing
376: !Spoilers! Dido, Queen of Carthage by Christopher Marlowe (Act 2)
It's time for some !Spoilers! for Act Two of Dido, Queen of Carthage by Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Nashe (discuss attribution with footnotes, please only write on one side of the paper at a time). The play was recorded at The White Bear Theatre on Tuesday 12th December 2023.If you’d like more on this play, there are exploring sessions galore on the YouTube.All our rehearsals, dress run, and ro
375: Discussing: Thomas More with Dr Joanne Paul
As part of the run up to Entertaining Henry we have this chat about Thomas More, prompted by Dr Joanne Paul's latest book on his life - it's a Venn diagram of a discussion, between the life of More, and the theatre world around him. Recorded live on zoom - there will be another live discussion in under two weeks time, details below.Thomas More: A Life and Death in Tudor England by Dr Joanne Paul i
374: !Spoilers! Dido, Queen of Carthage by Christopher Marlowe (Act 1)
It's time for some !Spoilers! for Act One of Dido, Queen of Carthage by Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Nashe (discuss, with footnotes, please only write on one side of the paper at a time). The play was recorded at The White Bear Theatre on Tuesday 12th December 2023.We know we said Robert would be doing briefer Spoilers episodes, but that clearly didn't happen...If you’d like more on this play, t
373: Queen Isabella from Edward II by Christopher Marlowe (Speech! Speech!)
Speech! Speech! Occasional scenes and speeches from plays, voted for by those you support our work. This is a speech from Edward II by Christopher Marlowe, recorded live at our Revels season on Tuesday 12th December 2023. With Pamela Flanagan as Isabella.Our patrons received the scene within this episode in January 2024 - 17 months early!The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is supported by its patrons –
365: Doctor John Faustus (Chapter 18)
The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus, is the book that is the source for Christopher Marlowe's play. Chapter by chapter we will wander through the twists and turns of this story.Chapter Eighteen: A question put forth by Doctor Faustus to his Spirit, concerning Astronomy. Our patrons also get an exploring session looking in detail at the text - join our chat h
372: Discussing: York Plays 2025 with Matthew Sergi
This discussion is with organiser Matthew Sergi, Associate Professor of English (Medieval Drama), University of Toronto about the York Plays 2025. Performing on Saturday 7th June 2025, (8th if there is rain) starting at 6am will be 17 performance groups who will present all the York Plays, repeating their performances on replica wagon stages.As ever with these discussions, we go on a number of tan
371: Discussing: You Can't Just Throw a Woman at It
Discussing: You Can't Just Throw a Woman at it: Dramaturgical Misogyny in Early Modern Drama with Dr Nora J. Williams.Nora J. Williams is the Associate Dean for Access and Participation at BIMM University. Her first book, Canonical Misogyny, is available now from Edinburgh University Press. Her interests lie in practice-as-research, staging violence and intimacy, and feminist dramaturgies.Our patr
362: Richard III or, The English Prophet by Samuel Rowley (Fragment)
It's an interesting double bill episode this week, as we contemplate two pieces of evidence for one or two plays on Richard III. The first element comes from the licencing of a play, the other a reported line from a play. Are they the same play? Impossible to tell, but it helps make this episode a little more substantial.You can find the source for our text here.There is also an exposition on the
357: The Guise from The Massacre at Paris by Christopher Marlowe (Speech! Speech!)
Welcome to this other side of our new strand, a return to a promised thing for our patrons - occasional scenes and speeches from plays, voted for by those you support our work. This is a speech from The Massacre at Paris by Christopher Marlowe, recorded live at our Revels season on Tuesday 12th December 2023. With Lynsey Beauchamp as the Guise. Our patrons received the scene within this episode in
364: Doctor John Faustus (Chapter 17)
The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus, is the book that is the source for Christopher Marlowe's play. Chapter by chapter we will wander through the twists and turns of this story. This month, we begin part 2 of the narrative...Performed by Robert CrightonChapter Seventeen: Here followeth the second part of Doctor Faustus his life, and practises until his end.
370: Entertaining Henry (Season Announcement)
Surprise! We're having a party, and you're invited! Entertaining Henry will be a pop up festival of drama from the reign of Henry the Eighth - a three day pop up festival, performing six complete plays, and a number of over excerpts from the period.More info on our website here!A co-production with The Quay Theatre and Beyond Shakespeare...Let us take you through a whistle-stop tour of the enterta
369: Discussing: Dick of Devonshire with Kate Ellis
This week we have a discussion of the play Dick of Devonshire by... well, you shall hear. This is a chat with Kate Ellis, who has produced a Revels edition of the play, the first critical edition of this manuscript text. It is available to purchase now from Manchester University Press, though it's still a tad pricey.CW: We do discuss the sexual violence within the play, from about half way through
356: Good Order or, Old Christmas by the Unknown (Fragment)
It's time for a rather chunky section of a damaged play. We have the end of this play, known as Good Order, or Old Christmas. Printed by William Rastell in 1533, it covers the conclusion of a play about how an excess of good cheer over Christmas can be a bad thing. Hint, hint. Yes, you. PUT THE MINCED PIE DOWN!In Old Christmas or Good Order by the UnknownOld Christmas - Aliki ChappleGood Order - H
367: Cleopatra by Samuel Daniel (Full Cast Audio Adaptation)
It's here at last, recorded live at The White Bear Theatre during our Winter Revels 2023 on Wednesday 13th December 2023, it's The Tragedy of Cleopatra by Samuel Daniel. Content warnings are below the cast list.Pamela Flanagan - CleopatraSimon Nader - Caesar Lynsey Beauchamp - ProculeiusKeith Hill - AriusAlexandra Kataigida - PhilostratusValentina Vinci - DolabellaKit McGuire - SeleucusKarim Kronf
364: Doctor John Faustus (Chapter 16)
The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus, is the book that is the source for Christopher Marlowe's play. Chapter by chapter we will wander through the twists and turns of this story.Performed by Robert CrightonChapter Sixteen: Another question put forth by Doctor Faustus to his Spirit Mephostophiles of his own estate. Our patrons also get an exploring session loo
361: Exploring: Beware the Cat by William Baldwin - Part 5 (Archive LIVE Stream)
Welcome to archived live stream exploring session for Beware the Cat by William Baldwin. It was live streamed on Robert Crighton's private YouTube channel, but not officially added to the podcast, during the opening of the 2020 plague and, beyond a few minor tweaks, remains as streamed. It's a First Look, so it's rough as such things are, and obviously we've come a long way since then.This final p
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