The History of European Theatre Podcast
A chronological history of the development and practice of theatre, tracing the emergence from ancient Greece through to the present day.
The History of European Theatre looks at the places where theatre was made and the people who made it happen. More than just dates and lists of plays we’ll share the social, political and historical context that fostered the creation of dramatic art.
Latest Episodes
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 [...]
Medieval Conclusions
Episode 62With the Reformation came the final end of the great Religious plays of the medieval period. The episode sumarises the great trends of medieval theatre and charts the final end as Europe descended into [...]
For the Money: The Medieval Commercial Theatre
Episode 61Once the medieval theatre had moved out of the confines of the church and away from religious obligation a form of commercial theatre began, but how was money spent and income generated and was [...]
Full Episode Listing
Virtues Vs Vices: The Morality Play
Episode 57
The Morality play is a type of play that for all its similarities and shared heritage with the Corpus Christi cycle plays brought something new to the world of drama and had […]
Hell Harrowed, the World Flooded
Episode 56
The history of the Harrowing of Hell and the way it was portrayed in the cycle plays, including some thoughts on how it would have been staged and how the play comes alive when […]
While Shepherds Watched
Episode 55
The Second Shepherds play is considered the best of the medieval cycle plays. In this episode I take a look at not only the second shepherds play, but the first play as well, which […]
The Home of the Cycle Plays: York, Chester, Coventry and Wakefield
Episode 54
In this episode we look at the way the cycle plays developed in the four major centres from where we have complete versions of the cycle: York, Chester, Coventry and Wakefield.
The development of the […]
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 […]
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 details of the […]