Episodes
July 12, 2021
Medieval Stage Effects
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 th…
July 5, 2021
Medieval Performance and Rehearsal
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 de…
June 30, 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. This podcast uses the following third-party services for anal…
June 28, 2021
Corpus Christi: New Feast Day, New Plays
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 guil…
June 21, 2021
Synods Tropes Asses and Fools
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…
June 14, 2021
Uncomfortable Bedfellows: Theatre and Worship
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 th…
June 7, 2021
From Roman to Medieval
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 se…
May 31, 2021
Season Three Trailer: Medieval Theatre
Season 3 Trailer: Medieval Theatre This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
May 24, 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 This podcast uses th…
May 17, 2021
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…
May 10, 2021
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 kno…
May 3, 2021
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 ghos…
April 26, 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 Al…
April 23, 2021
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 Deat…
April 12, 2021
Roman Places Of Seeing
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 ther…
April 5, 2021
Roman Conclusions Part 2
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 numbe…
March 29, 2021
Roman Conclusions Part 1
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 w…
March 22, 2021
Roman Pantomime: The Silent Art
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…
March 15, 2021
Roman Mime: It’s not what you think.
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…
March 8, 2021
Seneca’s Phaedra: Mother Lust
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 Eurip…
March 1, 2021
Seneca’s Medea: Beware Pure Evil
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…
Feb. 22, 2021
Seneca: Bloody Tragedy
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 Senec…
Feb. 15, 2021
The Brothers: How to Get The Best From Your Children
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. T…
Feb. 8, 2021
The Self Tormenter: Fathers and Sons and Lovers
Episode 38 A look at 'The Self Tormenter' by Terrence. 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 …