Episodes

Episode 101: How Marlowe’s other plays differ from Tamburlaine and Dr Faustus. The plot of ‘The Jew of Malta’. The depiction of Barabbas the Jew and how it might have been received by the audience. ‘Edward 2nd’ as a history play rather than a tragedy. The theme of homosexuality in Marlowe’s work. The plot of ‘Edward 2nd’. The slow burn of the play adding to it’s subdued nature. The motif of the wheel of fortune. Edward’s character and the difficulty of empathy. The ...

As my own small contribution to the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the printing of the first folio of Shakespeare's plays in this third and final episode of a short mini-series I look at the printing and selling of the First Folio and the afterlife of some of the copies as they travelled the globe. This includes some history on the greatest collector of First Folios and the creation of the Folger Library. Support the podcast at: www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com www.ko-fi...

Episode 100: Dr Faustus is one of the most influential plays of the Elizabethan period. Most commentators see this play as Marlowe’s masterpiece, and it is certainly the most performed of his plays through the centuries. The two printed version of the play and how they may have come to be updated. The Plot of ‘The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus’. The source material for the play. The effect of earning and wisdom. Comparisons with Tamburlaine The questioning of Christian ...

As my own small contribution to the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the printing of the first folio of Shakespeare's plays in this second episode of a short mini-series I look at the inspiration and motivations for the First Folio and how it was produced What prompted the creator to produce the First Folio? Ben Johnson’s First Folio John Hemenge – Actor and Administrator Henry Condell – Actor and friend of Shakespeare Richard Burbage – Just a brief sketch How the plays...

Episode 99: Marlowe’s ‘Tamburlaine the Great’ is a play in two parts, an early example of a writer responding to popular acclaim by giving his audience more of the same, but for all of that mercenary motivation, and the fact that the first part was conceived as a stand-alone piece, they do work well as a conjoined piece. The history of the printed plays and the introduction by the printer Richard Jones. A summary of the plot of part one of the play. The relationship of the play to th...

As my own small contribution to the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the printing of the first folio of Shakespeare's plays in this first episode of a short mini-series I recount a recent journey to London to see copies of the first folio that are currently on display. Support the podcast at: www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com www.ko-fi.com/thoetp www.patreon.com/thoetp This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/...

Episode 98: Marlowe as a playwright at the beginning of the greatest period of Elizabethan creativity. A short recap on Marlowe’s university life. Marlowe moves to London. The anonymity and earning power of Elizabethan playwrights. ‘Dido, Queen of Carthage’. Thomas Nashe as co-author of ‘Dido, Queen of Carthage’. Marlowe’s sexual preferences. The Elizabethan attitude to sexuality. Marlowe and religion. The School of Atheism. Marlowe’s use of rhetoric. Marlowe, blank verse, and iambic...

Nick Bromley returns to discuss his book Stage Ghosts and Haunted Theatres. Stories of strange happenings in theatres abound and Nick has collected them together that takes you on a ghostly tour of London's West End and UK regional theatres. Both of Nick's books are available through his website: www.LNPbooks.co.uk Support the podcast at: www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com www.ko-fi.com/thoetp www.patreon.com/thoetp This podcast uses the following third-party services f...

Episode 97: Christopher Marlowe was one of the giants of Elizabethan theatre, but he died young in mysterious circumstances. In this episode I try to unpick the mystery of why he died. Was it just an argument about the cost of a meal, or the result of some far more sinister goings-on in the world of Elizabethan espionage and court rivalry? Support the podcast at: www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com www.ko-fi.com/thoetp www.patreon.com/thoetp This podcast uses the following ...

In this special episode I discuss historic and recent audience behaviour in the Theatre and how that behaviour reflects changes in society, with some particular reference to recent events in society and at some theatrical performances. Kirsty Sedgman is a theatre academic at the University of Bristol who specialises in studying audiences. She has spent her career studying how we construct and maintain our competing value systems, working out how people can live side by side in the same world ...

Episode 96: The life and works of Thomas Nashe Early Life Cambridge University and ‘Terminus et non Terminus’ Nash moves to London and joins the ‘University Wits’ Pamphlets and work for the Archbishop of Canterbury Nashe’s style and pseudonyms Disagreements with the Gabriel brothers Nash’s Dildo Pearse Penniless Summers Last Will and Testament, his only surviving solo-authored play The Unfortunate Traveller Christ’s Tears Over Jerusalem and Imprisonment Terrors Of the Night The Isl...

To celebrate Shakespeare's birthday a special episode with guest Colin David Reese, actor, author and performer of 'Shakespeare Unbound', a one man play about the creation of the First Folio Edition of Shakespeare's plays, which was published 400 years ago this year. David spoke to me previously (see bonus episode 'Shakespeare Unbound') about his play and the creation of the first folio and he makes a welcome return here to further discuss our continuing fascination with Shakespeare, how we v...

Episode 95: The life and plays of some of the lesser known playwrights of the Tudor period. George Gascoigne - his shady life story and his Italian translations into English prose. Robert Greene - how he carved out a professional writers life from an unpromising start, his plays, and that notorious comment about Shakespeare. Thomas Lodge - a prodigious talent who sought out an adventurous life and wrote two verse plays. Thomas Preston - A Fellow of Cambridge University who wrote plays in ma...

Nick Bromley has had a long career as a Stage Manager and Company Stage Manager and has worked on many UK tours and West End shows. He recently collated his acquired knowledge into a dictionary of theatrical terms, myths and stories called 'Theatre Lore'. He kindly agreed to come and talk to me about his life and career and his book. You can order a copy of 'Theatre Lore' direct from Nick at his website https://lnpbooks.co.uk/ Support the podcast at: www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.c...

Episode 94: Gorboduc the first tragedy in blank verse The lives of the co-authors Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville The plot of the play including the description of the opening dumb show The origins of the Gorboduc story The political message of the play How the play incorporates ideas and style from Seneca, Aristotle, and the medieval traditions The use of allegorical characters The problems whit the play as good drama The play as an academic debate The second printing of the play ...

A Bonus episode featuring a sample of the content available to members subscribed to The History Of European Theatre on Patreon. To join up go to: www.patreon.com/thoetp Support the podcast at: www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com www.ko-fi.com/thoetp www.patreon.com/thoetp This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Episode 93: The earliest extant plays from the Tudor period include comedies and a historical morality, which give an insight into how theatre developed. A summary of the elements that came together to make Tudor theatre a very special development. Students and Masters become playwrights looking to Seneca Nicolas Udal, schoolmaster and writer of the earliest surviving comedy A summary of Ralph Roister Doister The problem of the authorship of Gammer Gurton's Needle A summary of Gammer Gurt...

There are just a few very well-known names from the theatre of the 18th century – Sheridan, Goldsmith, Garrick and some other, less well known. One playwright you have probably never heard of is John Borgoyne – well not as a playwright anyway. In his biography of Burgoyne ‘From the Battlefield to the Stage’ Professor Norman Poser unpicks the often scarce and conflicting sources and tells the story of Burgouyne from his beginnings, through his military career and his theatrical successes. I spoke...

Episode 92: Elizabeth’s reign is seen as the golden age of theatre where many great playwrights, and one genius in particular, flourished. But did that happen because of the freedoms they were granted, or because of the constraints they worked under? The situation in theatre as Elizabeth ascended to the throne. The revision of the Act of Uniformity. The renewal of the ban on Interludes and censorship play printing. Rules introduced to combat the spread of plague. Attempts to ban plays on m...

A special episode in conversation with actor and Shakespeare expert Colin David Reese who's one man play 'Shakespeare Unbound' tells of the production of the first folio edition of Shakespeare's plays and it's creator John Heminges. You can own a copy of Shakespeare Unbound to stream, which is available at www.shakespeareunbound.com Registration for the streaming event - an extract from the play and Q & A discussion - is available at www.eventbrite.com See Colin's Bio at: www.shakespeareunb...

Episode 91: By the 1530s the State was concerned with the regulation & censorship of plays. Here are the key moments of legislation under Henry, Edward & Mary. The background of what made legislation necessary. The end of the Corpus Christi Cycle Play. The beginnings of actions against players The Act For The Advancement of True Religion Pammachius performed at Cambridge and the aftermath. Early controls in London The death of Henry 8th and changes under Edward Repeated attempts to ban t...

Episode 90: The development of the profession of acting, of ‘stage-playing’ through the Tudor period. How the professional stage player developed out of the medieval entertainer. How travelling players became household players and then settled in the London playhouses. The beginnings of an acting profession. The Earl of Leicester’s Men. The English Sumptuary laws. The boy troupes. The objections to players and playhouses. The reputation of players. Some examples of contemporary views o...

Episode 89: As England emerged from the Medieval period theatre became established in London in purpose built theatres and in buildings adapted for the purpose. In this episode we look at those earliest theatres and their builders: The Red Lion, a probably short lived theatre built by John Brayne Four Inns that operated as theatres The Bel Savage, The Bull, The Bell, and the Cross Keys The Theatre at Newington Butts The Theatre - probably the first truly purpose built theatre since Roman ti...

Episode 88: An introduction to season 5 of the podcast. The theatrical links between England and Continental Europe in the 16th Century. Some differences and similarities. Why English theatre stands apart from that of continental Europe. Sir Philip Sidney’s ‘Defence of Poetry’, his dislike of the stage and ideas on the power of poetic language. The development of English as a language to be used poetically. The slow rise of England out of the Medieval period. Theatre and king Henry 8th. ...