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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If you would like to contact me you can do so via the podcast Twitter account @thoetp, or via the Facebook page or group, or by email [email protected]
Latest Episodes
Behind the Dikes: Renaissance Theatre in The Netherlands
Episode 84:Given the destruction of the thirty years war moving backwards and forwards across the Germanic and Flemish states of Europe between 1618 and 1648 it is a wonder that any art could flourish at [...]
Commedia Dell’arte: Players and Troupes
Episode 83:The Commedia Dell’arte tropes that operated in Italy and France were like many actors before them - travelling players operating if not exactly outside of society, then in their own niche within it. The framework [...]
Commedia Dell’arte: A Selection of Scenarios
Episode 82:The characters of Commedia Dell’arte may have been used in every play over and over again until they became completely familiar, but the plays themselves were more varied that you might imagine.The first preserved [...]
Full Episode Listing
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 […]
Lope de Vega: The World’s Most Prolific Playwright
Episode 75:
The Life of Lope de Vega, greatest dramatist of the Spanish Renaissance Theatre. He had a very full life which was not just confined to writing plays, but his output was prolific on a […]
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.
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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 […]
Spanish Renaissance Theatre part 2: Before the Comedia
Episode 73
Continuing 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. […]
Spanish Renaissance Theatre part 1: The Beginning of a National Drama.
Episode 72
The Situation in Spain prior to the Renaissance period with a summary of developments in the Roman and Medieval periods in Spain.
The merging of religious and secular theatre at the end of the medieval […]