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.
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Latest Episodes
Renaissance Places of Seeing: Life at the Corral Del Principe
Episode 87:A day in the life of one of Madrid's Renaissance period theatres, the Corral Del Principe.Support the podcast at:www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.comwww.ko-fi.com/thoetpwww.patreon.com/thoetp
European Renaissance Conclusions
Episode 86:A summary to conclude the season on European Renaissance Theatre focussing on four aspects of the theatre that I have covered in the last twenty-two episodes: The Italian RebirthThe Parisian TheatreTheatre in SpainThe Commedia [...]
Bernini and Others: Sculpture, Architecture and Plays
Episode 85:We return to Italy, to the birthplace of the Renaissance, for one last visit in this theatrical age.The Bernini family and their history as sculptors and architects.The early life and career of the second-generation [...]
Full Episode Listing
Commedia Dell’arte: Characters and Masks
Episode 81:
The development of common character types through the travelling troupes.
The hierarchy of character, the troupe, and how that reflected society in general.
The five main characters:
Pantalone
Il Dottore
Il Capitano
Pulchinello
Harlequin
Minor characters:
Brighella
Pedrolino
Columbine and other female characters
The young lovers
Support […]
Mountebanks, Charlatans, and the Origins of Commedia Dell’arte
Episode 80:
The influence of Italian literary theatre can be seen in later works, but if there is one form that infiltrated the general consciousness of theatrical comedy on the continent it is the Commedia Dell’arte.
A […]
Keeping It Real: Italian Theatre In Perspective
Episode 79:
As things moved on in the early renaissance art – painting and sculpture – led the way and theatre soon followed. Artists tried to inject more realism into their work, showing their subjects as they […]
Entertaining Madrid: The Corral del Principe
Episode 78:
Records about the second corral in Madrid tell us a lot about the theatre. In this episode we go through the details of what the different parts of the theatre on the Calle […]
Life Is a Dream: Pedro Calderon de la Barca
Episode 77:
The life of Pedro Calderon de la Barca who took Lope de Vega’s crown as the greatest living Spanish playwright after Lope’s death in 1635
His childhood, youthful brushes with the law, military […]
A Master At Work: The Plays of Lope de Vega
Episode 76:
A discussion of a sample of the plays by Lope de Vega
The Gardener’s Dog: A Comedy The meaning of the title, a plot summary, the major themes.
Punishment Without Vengeance: A Tragedy. A plot summary, […]