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
03-July-2023
As my own small contribution to the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the printing of the first folio of Shakespeare's plays in this third and final episode of a short mini-series I look at the printing and selling [...]
26-June-2023
Episode 100:Dr Faustus is one of the most influential plays of the Elizabethan period. Most commentators see this play as Marlowe’s masterpiece, and it is certainly the most performed of his plays through the centuries.The two printed version of the [...]
19-June-2023
As my own small contribution to the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the printing of the first folio of Shakespeare's plays in this second episode of a short mini-series I look at the inspiration and motivations for the [...]
12-June-2023
Episode 99:Marlowe’s ‘Tamburlaine the Great’ is a play in two parts, an early example of a writer responding to popular acclaim by giving his audience more of the same, but for all of that mercenary motivation, and the fact [...]
Full Episode Listing
02-October-2023
Episode 107:In the first of two episodes on Thomas Dekker I discuss his earliest life and his prose works.Dekker's early life and first forays into the playhouse.His prose work 'The Wonderful Year'The Gull's Handbook - with some extensive quotes [...]
18-September-2023
Episode 106:We have the detail about the way a London playhouse functioned thanks, in a large part, to one document. Theatre owner Philip Henslowe kept a record of many aspects of his enterprise at the Rose theatre from 1591 to [...]
12-September-2023
Bonus Episode 31Guest Jacob Bloomfield discusses his book 'Drag: A British History', with particular reference to Arthur Lucan (AKA Old Mother Riley), the drag review shows that came out of both WW1 and WW2 concert parties and the demise [...]
04-September-2023
Episode 105:The life of Thomas Kyd, including a word on Elizabethan schooling.Thomas Nashe on Kyd.Kyd and the London playwright set.Kyd and Lord Strange.Questions over the first performances of ‘The Spanish Tragedy’.Is ‘The Spanish Tragedy’ a sequel?Cornelia, Kyd’s other surviving [...]
21-August-2023
Episode 104:Continuing the story of the Elizabethan theatre buildings.The construction of The GlobeMaster carpenter Peter StreetThe death of The GlobeThe Fortune - Henslowe's replacement for The RoseThe Whitefriars TheatreThe Hope - Henslowe's replacement for his bear garden, almost.The second [...]
07-August-2023
Episode 103:The story of the next phase of theatre building in Elizabethan London featuring the indoor and outdoor playhouses.The First Blackfriars TheatreThe CurtainPhilip HensloweThe Rose Francis LangleyThe SwanThe Second Blackfriars TheatreSupport the podcast at:www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.comwww.ko-fi.com/thoetpwww.patreon.com/thoetp
24-July-2023
Episode 102:The sources of information on the playing troupes.The Earl of Leicester’s Men – the earliest recorded acting troupe.How troupes operated under the patronage of their master.The royal patent and how it changed the way troupes operated.The sumptuary laws [...]
10-July-2023
Episode 101:How Marlowe’s other plays differ from Tamburlaine and Dr Faustus.The plot of ‘The Jew of Malta’.The depiction of Barabbas the Jew and how it might have been received by the audience.‘Edward 2nd’ as a history play rather than [...]
03-July-2023
As my own small contribution to the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the printing of the first folio of Shakespeare's plays in this third and final episode of a short mini-series I look at the printing and selling [...]
26-June-2023
Episode 100:Dr Faustus is one of the most influential plays of the Elizabethan period. Most commentators see this play as Marlowe’s masterpiece, and it is certainly the most performed of his plays through the centuries.The two printed version of the [...]