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
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.comwww.ko-fi.com/thoetpwww.patreon.com/thoetp
The Spanish Playhouse, its manager, his actors, and their audience
Episode 74: The development of Spanish theatre buildings, including the original, the Corral de la Olivera in Valencia.Alberto Ganassa and the influence of his Comedia Dell Arte troupe.The first theatre in Madrid the Corral de Pachea The [...]
Spanish Renaissance Theatre part 2: Before the Comedia
Episode 73Continuing the story of the development of theatre through the early Spanish renaissance via the life and works of the playwrights. With apologies for the slightly raspy 'post-covid' throat at the time of recording. [...]
Full Episode Listing
Germanic Renaissance Theatre
Episode 69
The Renaissance met the Reformation in the Germanic States of Northern Europe so we start with a word on Martin Luther and his love of music and qualified approval of theatre.
Latin drama of Jacob […]
La Pellegrina: Comedy for a Royal Renaissance Wedding
Episode 68
A detailed look at ‘La Pellegrina’, a play written for the wedding celebrations of Grand Duke Fernando of Sienna in 1589.
The background to the writing of the play commissioned by Cardinal Fernando Di Midici
A […]
The Italian Rebirth part 3
Episode 67
In this third part of the story of theatre in the Italian Renaissance the counter reformation overshadows the work of playwrights.
We conclude the story of Giovan Maria Cecchi with a look at his later […]
The Italian Rebirth part 2
Episode 66
Continuing from the last episode with more comedic dramatists from the Italian renaissance we meet Angelo Beolco who, under the tutorage of Ariosto, created, and became synonymous with, the character of Ruzzante.
Then on to […]
Dancing Dan’s Christmas
For Christmas 2021 a reading of ‘Dancing Dan’s Christmas’, a short story by Damon Runyon.
The Italian Rebirth part 1
Episode 65
The development of tragedy and comedy in early Italian renaissance theatre happened on parallel paths as each struggeled to look forward rather than back.
The development of Tragedy following the rediscovery of the […]