September 2023
Drag: A British History – A Conversation with Jacob Bloomfield
Bonus Episode 31
Guest Jacob Bloomfield discusses his book ‘Drag: A British History’, with particular reference to Arthur Lucan (AKA Old Mother Riley), the drag review shows that came out of both WW1 and WW2 concert parties and the demise of theatre censorship in the UK through the lens of drag performances.
Jacob Bloomfield is Zukunftskolleg Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Konstanz and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Kent. His research is situated primarily in the fields of cultural history, the history of sexuality, and gender history. He is currently working on a book about the historical reception […]
July 2023
400 Years of the First Folio: Part 3 The Folio In The World
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.com/thoetp
www.patreon.com/thoetp
June 2023
400 Years of the First Folio: Part 2 Creating the Folio
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 existed in print and manuscript and how they were collected
Financing the project
Edward Blunt, Bookseller and his previous work with Shakespeare’s plays
Willian Jaggard, printer […]
400 Years of the First Folio: Part 1 The Folio on Display
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
May 2023
Stage Ghosts and Haunted Theatres: A Conversation With Nick Bromley
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
The Reasonable Audience: A Conversation With Dr Kirsty Sedgman
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 yet come to understand it in such totally different ways. The author of On Being Unreasonable: Breaking the Rules and Making Things […]
April 2023
The Genius of Shakespeare with Colin David Reese
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 view his genius, and what the truth really is behind that image.
Find out more about David’s work and ‘Shakespeare Unbound’ at www.shakespeareunbound.com
Support […]
Theatre Lore: A Conversation With Nick Bromley
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.com
www.ko-fi.com/thoetp
www.patreon.com/thoetp
March 2023
The History Of European Theatre on Patreon
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
From The Battlefield To the Stage: A Conversation with Professor Norman Poser
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 to Professor Poser on Zoom from his home in New York.
About the author: Norman S. Poser is the author […]
February 2023
Shakespeare Unbound: A conversation With Colin David Reese
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.shakespeareunbound.com/the-actor/
Support the podcast at:
www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com
www.ko-fi.com/thoetp
www.patreon.com/thoetp
December 2022
Pantomime: A conversation with Aaron Odom – part 2
The second part of my seasonal chat with guest Aaron Odom director Trident Theatre Company and Euripides Eumenides Podcast. We pick up the story of the history of the British Christmas Pantomime, going further back to the influence of Comedies Dell’arte and the bringing the story forward to it’s zenith in the later Victorian period up to some of today’s challenges for the modern Panto.
For more details about Aaron and his work: https://tridenttheatre.com/about/
The Euripides Eumenides Podcast is available on all good podcast apps or you can find details here: https://tridenttheatre.com/euripides-eumenides/
Support […]
Pantomime: A conversation with Aaron Odom – part 1
A seasonal episode with guest Aaron Odom director Trident Theatre Company and Euripides Eumenides Podcast where the main subject of the day is the phenomenon of the British Christmas Pantomime, but in a wide-ranging chat about theatre in general we also covered Aaron’s background and some of his current projects with Trident Theatre Company.
Part two of our conversation is following soon.
For more details about Aaron and his work: https://tridenttheatre.com/about/
The Euripides Eumenides Podcast is available on all good podcast apps or you can find details here: https://tridenttheatre.com/euripides-eumenides/
Support the podcast at:
www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com
The Oberammergau Passion Play
A bonus episode on the origins, development and recent history of The Oberammergau Passion Play.
Support the podcast at:
www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com
www.ko-fi.com/thoetp
www.patreon.com/thoetp
November 2022
Pericles & Aspasia: A Conversation With Yvonne Korshak
A conversation with author Yvonne Korshak about her novel ‘Pericles and Aspasia’
The novel unfolds against the background of the arts and history of the Golden Age seen through the eyes of two individuals who lent their luster to make it “golden,” Pericles, the great orator and visionary of democracy and its most influential woman, Aspasia. Their story takes them from the Agora—Athens’ marketplace—to the Acropolis, from the mercantile, raunchy Athenian Port Piraeus across the Aegean Sea to East Greece. Pericles and Aspasia—together and apart—navigate treacherous paths from venal calculations to impassioned philosophical inquiry, from high-stakes sea battles to the passions […]
Athens
Thoughts on a recent trip to the Greek capital, Athens a city resonating with ancient history
Support the podcast at:
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October 2022
The Bones Of Calderon de la Bacca
A bonus episodes as a coda to the European Renaissance Theatre season following the story of what happened to the remains of Calderon de la Bacca after his death.
Support the podcast at:
www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com
www.ko-fi.com/thoetp
www.patreon.com/thoetp
May 2022
The Second Anniversary Episode
A special bonus episode to celebrate the second anniversary of the podcast. We step out of the timeline of the renaissance theatre as I tell the story of the venue that was the home to my first theatrical experiences – The Castle Theatre, Farnham
For much of the information in this episode I am indebted to Matthew Lloyd for the use of material. For information about many UK theatres and music halls go to: http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk
For further information about Waverley Abbey go to: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/waverley-abbey/
For further information about Farnham Castle go to: https://www.farnhamcastle.com
For further information about Farnham and it’s history go to: https://farnhamsociety.org.uk
Support […]
April 2022
Shakespeare: Wordsmith of the English Language
A special bonus episode to celebrate the Birthday of William Shakespeare which looks at the way he used and created the English Language.
Support the podcast at:
www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com
www.ko-fi.com/thoetp
www.patreon.com/thoetp
December 2021
Dancing Dan’s Christmas
For Christmas 2021 a reading of ‘Dancing Dan’s Christmas’, a short story by Damon Runyon.
November 2021
An Introduction to the Diary of Philip Henslowe
In this bonus episode we get an introduction the the diary of Philip Henslowe, theatre owner and businessman during the end of the Tudor period and beginning of the Stuart period. Elements from the diary will feature on upcoming episodes for podcast supporters on Patreon.
To support the podcast go to: www.patreon.com/thoetp
www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com
October 2021
Salome, Oscar Wilde and Lazarus Theatre
A bonus episode featuring Salome by Oscar Wilde. In summer 2021 I was fortunate to see the Lazarus Theatre production at the Southwark Playhouse in London. In this episode I give a brief version of the Oscar Wilde story, look at Salome in more detail and think about what the Lazarus Theatre revival brings to this lesser known play.
To see more about the work of Lazarus Theatre: www.lazarustheatrecompany.co.uk
For some of the pictures and cartoons mentioned in the podcast: www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.com/blog
June 2021
Ian McKellen’s Hamlet: A Return to Theatre
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.
May 2021
Lazarus Theatre: A conversation with Ricky Dukes
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
Actors of Dionysus: A conversation with Tamsin Shasha
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
Greek Theatre and before: A conversation with Rosie Beech
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
The First Birthday Episode
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
April 2021
Website Announcement
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
Windows On A Shakespearean Life
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
March 2021
Christopher Marlow on The History Of England Podcast
A short trailer for THOETP guest appearance on The History Of England Podcast with the story of the short life and death of Christopher Marlow.
December 2020
A Christmas Time
A little extra episode for Christmas week with best wishes to you all for the holiday season.
If you would like to support the podcast please find us at:
www.Patreon.com or www.ko-fi.com
October 2020
Interval
A short episode about new content on Patreon.com and some reccomendations to keep you occupied while I research The Theatre of Rome. Links to the sites mentioned are:
https://www.patreon.com/THOETP
https://ko-fi.com/thoetpodcast