Beyond Shakespeare

 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 Entertaining Henry season from June on our patreon feed - rehearsal audio for £5 tier, and both audio and video for £10 tiers. But free to all are our exploring session videos.And there is also a video of the discussed production of The Interlude of Youth from the John Cullum Theatre at the American Theatre of Actors, New York in August 2025, directed Dr. Jeff S. Dailey. There's information about the production, and a video of it online.Our patrons received a rough mix of this episode in September 2025 - 5 months in advance.The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is supported by its patrons – become a patron and you get to choos

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 Davies book What is a Playhouse. Additional material sourced from volume seven of Wiggin's British Drama catalogue.The fragment was performed by Ailbhe Casey as Kendal, and Aliki Chapple as John Brittan. The host was Robert CrightonOur patrons received the scene within this episode in July 2025 - 8 months early!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/beyondshakespeare - or if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/beyondshakespeare - or if you want to give us some feedback, email us at admin@beyond

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 with very odd versions of place names - I lost all ability to say these places in any comprehensible way, but hopefully it isn't too weird.CW: Early modern racial languageChapter Twenty-Three: How Faustus had a sight of Paradise Our patrons also get an exploring session looking in detail at the text - join our chat here.Thunder sfx thanks to zapsplat.comOur patrons received this episode in September 2024 - approx. 17 months early. They have also already received the next 19 chapters and exploring sessions!The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is supported by its patrons – become a patron and you get to choose the plays we wo

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, about this cruel and unforgiving world. With Roel Fox as the Miller, and Emma Kemp as Fair Em.For more from the play, go to our Exploring Sessions!Our patrons received the scene within this episode in January 2024 - over 2 years early!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/beyondshakespeare - or if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/beyondshakespeare - or if you want to give us some feedback, email us at admin@beyondshakespeare.org, follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram @BeyondShake

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-Connell – DidoKit McGuire – AeneasKarim Kronfli - IarbusAlex Kapila - AnnaPamela Flanagan - AscaniusLynsey Beauchamp - IlioneusSarah Blake - Venus / NurseKeith Hill - Jupiter / AchatesAlexandra Kataigida - CloanthusEmma Kemp - CupidLiza Graham - Juno / HermesSimon Nader - Sergestus / LordGanymede - Robert CrightonMusic by Roel FoxTechnical operator for the live show was Valentina VinciProduced by Robert CrightonThe play was recorded live 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 rough

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 forthcoming events, but also in opportunities for acting, directing or backstaging, sign up to their mailing list:  http://eepurl.com/DrIJ For any general enquiries: info@yorkshakespeareproject.org and can be found on Facebook and InstagramA Game at Chess - additional materials from us...YouTube playlist of readings of the play.Podcast playlist on the play.Patreon box set of this show.The Legacy of Thomas Middleton discussing episode.Webpage covering the play. Our patrons received a rough mix of this episode in January 2025 - a month in advance.The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is supported by its patrons – become a pa

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 so aligns with our core belief that no play should be left behind and should have an outlet – from the manuscript or printed page, to performance and beyond. Over the course of their generous sponsorship we will be giving away a volume each month, as well as producing a special event assisted by one of their most celebrated publications, W.W. Greg’s edition of The Book of Sir Thomas More. For more on the sponsorship and giveaway, go to our sponsorship webpage.Go to malonesociety.com for more information about the society.For more information about the Sir Thomas More event go to: https://beyondshakespeare.org/the-book

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 more from the play, go to our Exploring Sessions! Our patrons received the scene within this episode in January 2024 - 2 years early!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/beyondshakespeare - or if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/beyondshakespeare - or if you want to give us some feedback, email us at admin@beyondshakespeare.org, follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram @BeyondShakes or go to our website: https://beyondshakespeare.orgYou can also subscribe to our YouTube channel wh

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 - and we have finally completed the 1570's. Which didn't even have that many plays in it!As ever, this is a case of thinking aloud, and seeing what comes up.Hamlet to Hamilton: Exploring Verse Drama is an educational podcast from TURN TO FLESH PRODUCTIONS Audio Network. Teaching how to write and perform new verse drama.  Hosted by Emily C. A. Snyder.  Edited by Colin Kovarik.SEASON ONE: Writing Verse DramaSEASON TWO: Arthur Through the AgesSEASON THREE: SoliloquySEASON FOUR: The Origins of English Verse Drama - which is with us!Hamlet to Hamilton website - http://www.hamlettohamilton.com/Support H2H at their patreon - ht

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: "RED BULL THEATER brings rarely seen classic plays to dynamic new life for contemporary audiences. Our work unites a respect for tradition with a modern sensibility." And we can't support that sentiment more highly.Tickets available here! Our patrons received this episode a few days ago - most episodes are a month or twelve in advance, some are time sensitive like this one!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/beyondshakespeare - or if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/beyondshakespeare

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 might have finally made it into actual plays from the 1570's. Possibly. There aren't that many to play with.As ever, this is a case of thinking aloud, and seeing what comes up.Hamlet to Hamilton: Exploring Verse Drama is an educational podcast from TURN TO FLESH PRODUCTIONS Audio Network. Teaching how to write and perform new verse drama.  Hosted by Emily C. A. Snyder.  Edited by Colin Kovarik.SEASON ONE: Writing Verse DramaSEASON TWO: Arthur Through the AgesSEASON THREE: SoliloquySEASON FOUR: The Origins of English Verse Drama - which is with us!Hamlet to Hamilton website - http://www.hamlettohamilton.com/Support H2H

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 Penniless It is part of a two-day conference on the writings of Thomas Nashe (1567-c.1601)– and they commissioned a staged reading of Pierce Penniless from us – recordings will of course follow. Please register for the conference at  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdIz0iL-BbOEXKlIFw30m7Wlou4x7ZeQYqkoTYRFS0ezyuMQQ/viewform And the big live show is Sunday 12th April - All Day Event, London, looking at Sir Thomas More in detail. SAVE THE DATE - priority tickets list, sign up here!  Our patrons received this episode... well, the other day actually, but it is the end of the year round up, so whatcha gonna do? But everything else we do goes to them weeks, months - occasionally ye

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 of 1560's into the wilds of the 1570's. It's a case of thinking aloud, and seeing what comes up.Hamlet to Hamilton: Exploring Verse Drama is an educational podcast from TURN TO FLESH PRODUCTIONS Audio Network. Teaching how to write and perform new verse drama.  Hosted by Emily C. A. Snyder.  Edited by Colin Kovarik.SEASON ONE: Writing Verse DramaSEASON TWO: Arthur Through the AgesSEASON THREE: SoliloquySEASON FOUR: The Origins of English Verse Drama - which is with us!Hamlet to Hamilton website - http://www.hamlettohamilton.com/Support H2H at their patreon - https://www.patreon.com/hamlettohamiltonOur patrons receiv

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 the scene within this episode in May 2025 - 18 months early! 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/beyondshakespeare - or if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/beyondshakespeare - or if you want to give us some feedback, email us at admin@beyondshakespeare.org, follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram @BeyondShakes or go to our website: https://beyondshakespeare.org You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel where (most of) our exploring sessions live - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLa4pXxGZFwTX4QSaB5XNdQ The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is hosted and produced b

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/beyondshakespeare - or if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/beyondshakespeare - or if you want to give us some feedback, email us at admin@beyondshakespeare.org, follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram @BeyondShakes or go to our website: https://beyondshakespeare.org You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel where (most of) our exploring sessions live - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLa4pXxGZFwTX4QSaB5XNdQ The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is hosted and produced by Robert Crighton. 

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 any comprehensible way, but hopefully it isn't too weird. CW: Infanticide, anti-Catholic and Islamphobic sentiments, especially towards the end. The latter section with the problematic depiction of Islamic culture, also features a host of sexual consent issues. Chapter Twenty-Two: How Doctor Faustus made his journey through the principal and most famous lands in the world.   Our patrons also get an exploring session looking in detail at the text - join our chat here. Thunder sfx thanks to zapsplat.com Our patrons received this episode in September 2024 - approx. 14 months early. They have also already received the

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 the Unknown Albion Knight - Heydn McCabe Justice - Simon Nader Injury - Valentina Vinci Division - Robert Crighton Fragments is hosted and produced by Robert Crighton - additional special sound by zapsplat.com Our patrons received the scene within this episode in August 2025 - 3 months early! 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/beyondshakespeare - or if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/beyondshakespeare - or if you want to give us some feedback, email us at admin@beyondshakespear

 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 all. (If you'd like to join an exploring session that does talk about the play, follow this link!) Michelle is working on a PhD at the Shakespeare Institute, doing a bibliographic analysis of the titles printed by printer/publisher John Danter between 1591 and 1599 Our patrons received the scene within this episode in July 2025 - 4 months early! 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/beyondshakespeare - or if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/beyondshakespeare - or if you want to give

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 bluntly at times - events of the play which include attempted sexual assault, dismissal of sexual assault victims, anti-catholic sentiments, ableist, racist, and fatphobic dialogue from the period, discussion of violence, and of physical injuries. With Professor Tracey Hill, Dr Will Green, Daniel Yabut and cast member Keith Hill. The panel was hosted by Robert Crighton Also heard in the audience were Helen Good, Lois Potter, Roel Fox, and an exclamation by Liza Graham. The event was produced and edited by Robert Crighton This followed and before that Setting up the Board, which delivered an overview of Thomas Middle

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 Hill Robert Crighton as Mine Host John Liza Graham as Mine Hostess Joan Alexandra Kataigida as Thomas Middleton Daniel Yabut - Speech on the Hill Roel Fox – Speech in the Sanctuary and the Last Speech. Simon Nader – Government The event was produced and edited by Robert Crighton This followed and before that Setting up the Board, which delivered an overview of Thomas Middleton in the 1620’s, the first half and second half of the play A Game at Chess, and King's Gambit, which covered the aftermath of the affair. YouTube playlist of readings of the play. Podcast playlist on the play. Patreon box set of this show. The Legacy of Tho