Episodes

Episode 53 Stage sets, costuming and special effects became quite sophisticated in the cycle plays during the sixteenth century. This episode looks at the examples of stage sets that we have from Valenciennes. You can see the drawing that is described in the podcast here: www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com/gallery A look at evidence for costuming the has survived And then we take a look at the the different stager special effects used to impress the audience, especially the representations ...

Episode 52 This episode looks at how the Corpus Christi plays were organised and staffed with actors, tradesmen and other organisers and supporters. How rehearsals were organised and what was expected of actors, including details of the contrast they were expected to sign. The different playing spaces that were used for the plays, including three main types, the round, the wagon, and the market place. The role of 'The Ordinary' and other things we know about the way the plays were presented....

A short bonus episode celebrating Hamlet in a production by Sean Mathias, staring Sir Ian McKellen, which marked my return to live theatre after more than a year. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Episode 51 The instigation of the Corpus Christi feat day too theatre out of the church and into the town and village. This episode looks at the development of the celebration of the new feast day and how the new trades guilds and other organisations took over the production of biblical plays from the church. An understanding of the theology behind the feast day is important to an understanding of how the plays developed, so this is outlined and the concepts of time and place within the plays ...

Episode 50 The Synod of Winchester issued direction on the performance of the Trope in 960 and the door was open for further developments on other feast days. Then a look at other church festivals with dramatic elements. The Boy Bishop, The Day of Fools and the Festival of the Ass. And in the late twelfth century the Trope starts to get too big for the likes of some in the church as stage directions get more complicated and props and scenery get put to use to represent individual places and c...

Episode 49 The story of how theatre found it's way into the church service on the most important days in the Christian calendar, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. For a long time drama was a small elaboration to the massif the same way music, architecture and art were only included to amplify the message of the service and the word of God. Following a lot at their impact and use we get to the Trope, but it that really the beginnings of church drama? The Synod of Winchester in 970 might just have...

Episode 48 To open season three a summary of how theatre and dramatic activity survived despite the restrictions placed on it from the growing influence of the Christian Church. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Season 3 Trailer: Medieval Theatre This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

A conversation with Ricky Dukes, artistic director of Lazarus Theatre. Find more about Lazarus Theatre at: https://www.lazarustheatre.com or on Twitter @LazarusTheatre www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

A conversation with Tamsin Shasha, Actor, Ariel Performer and artistic director of The Actors of Dionysus. Find out more about Tamsin's work here: www.actorsofdionysus.com Twitter: @aodtheatre For the official website of the UN Climate Change Conference 2021: www.ukcop26.org and The Brighton Fringe www.brightonfringe.org www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

A conversation about the earliest forms of theatre, the Greeks, Dionysus and more with performer and podcaster Rosie Beech. Rosie has a masters degree in Social Anthropology and applies the rigours of that subject to her knowledge of the earliest forms of theatre and the role of religion, women and much more in Greek Theatre. Find Rosie's podcast as Yorick Radio Productions on all good podcast apps and on twitter @RadioYorick This podcast uses the following third-party services for analys...

A special episode to make the First Birthday of the Podcast featuring five stories from the history of the London Theatre Charles 2nd and Nell Gwyn King George, the Prince of Wales, and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The ghost of William Terriss Noel Coward's West End Flop The tradition of the Baddeley Cake This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

A short episode to introduce the new website for the podcast and the Facebook Group. Find us on the web at: www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com Find us as a Facebook Group as: The History of European Theatre Podcast Group Also at Patreon.com/thoetp This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

A special bonus episode to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare. Here, in seven parts, is a glimpse into a Shakespearean life: Birth, The School Room, The Players, Marriage, Poet, London and The Death Scene This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Episode 47 To conclude the season on the theatre of Rome this episode imagines a resident of the city in 54BCE, recounting in a letter to a sick friend, a day spent travelling to the theatre of Pompey and the time spent there. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Episode 46: The second and concluding part of a summary of Roman Theatre presented as my personal top ten of the most influential, interesting and surprising aspects of Roman Theatre. This episode goes from number 5 to number 1. No spoilers as to the content of the episode here. You'll have to listen to hear the countdown. And then the story of the final demise of theatre in the Roman Empire This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.c...

Episode 45 The first part of a summary of Roman Theatre presented as my personal top ten of the most influential, interesting and surprising aspects of Roman Theatre. This episode goes from number 10 to number 6. The top 5 will follow next time. No spoilers as to the content of the episode here. You'll have to listen to hear the countdown. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Episode 44: A detailed look at the Roman art of Pantomime which was the preeminent form of dramatic art during the Imperial period. Dr Elodie Palliard's thoughts on why Pantomime dominated and how it was used by the Emperors. The origins of Pantomime The performers Pylades, Bathyllus and their relationship with Emperor Augustus Pantomime as a non-verbal performance style Description of Pantomime and the regiment for it's supremacy over other forms by Lucian The banishment of...

Episode 43: The history of Roman Mime, one for the two dramatic forms that dominated theatre in the Roman Imperial period. A word on Horace and his work The Art Of Poetry, one of the most influential works of dramatic theory. His rules for the stage and where he did and didn’t agree with Aristotle The differences between Mime and other dramatic forms The origins of mime in Greece ad the Greek colonies in Italy Mime in Rome and at the Ludi festivals The limits of textual evidence for mime ...

Episode 42: This episode takes a detailed look at Phaedra, Seneca's version of the Hippolytus myth. The two versions by Euripides and how Seneca used these A summary of the play The differences in Seneca's version from Euripides - The position of Phaedra as innocent or responsible Greek shame Vs Roman guilt and repentance Phaedra and the Roman bas step-mother trope The play in relation to Stoic philosophy The motif of the hunt, the hunter and the hunted Presentation...

Episode 41 In this episode I take a detailed look at Seneca's version of Medea. The story of a woman who is a foreigner and a witch suited his form of dark tragedy perfectly. A summary of the narrative of the play The impact of the language used and how it becomes overblown. An analysis of the final scene and why Seneca might have chosen to make this the only moment of visual drama in the play. Questions about how and if the play was staged and the use of stage machinery Medea ...

Episode 40 The life and tines of Seneca - Philosopher, Playwright, Poet and Statesman who operated in the time of emperor Nero. The origins of Roman Tragic drama and the little we know about it's exponents. The life of Seneca from his birth in Spain and education in Rome. Seneca's rise to political office. The accession Claudius and the rise of his wife Agrippina and her son Nero. Court intrigues and an eight year exile in Corsica. Rehabilitation and tutor to Nero. Life unde...

Episode 39 The Brothers, dated to 160 BCE, is Terence’s last surviving work. We have that date exactly because the play is recorded as being presented at the games held to honour the Roman general Lucius Aemillus Paullus. The first presentation of the play and who was Lucius Aemillus Paullus? The prologue to the play and Terence's defence of his use of Greek plays to create a new piece. A synopsys of the play The Brothers as a play of ideas and a discussion of it's main themes abo...

Episode 38 A look at 'The Self Tormenter' by Terence. Written in 162 or 163 BCE this is the story of disagreements between fathers and sons over the choice of women and how a clever slave almost wins the day. A synopsis of the pay with some comments about the Prologue, the action of the play and the general style. The way Terence changes the standard stock characters and makes them more rounded characters than anything we have seen before, including how the portrayal of the clever slave...