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
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 [...]
Full Episode Listing
08-April-2024
Episode 115:A dive back into Ancient Greek theatre with a look at 'The Frogs' by Aristophanes.A recap on the life and plays of Aristophanes.A summary of the plot of the play.Analysis of the main points raised by the play. [...]
01-April-2024
Episode 114:As an introduction to season six of the podcast in the first part of this episode I lay out the aims for the next season and the approach I will be taking to the monoliths of early English [...]
09-January-2024
A bonus episode where Peter Schmitz of the 'Adventures In Theatre History - Philadelphia' podcast takes us through an overview of the development of theatre in Philadelphia.Peter Schmitz is an actor, dialect coach, and teacher of Theater History who lives [...]
02-January-2024
A short New Year message and about the timing for the start of season six of the podcast.
26-December-2023
Episode 113:As a coda to season 5 this episode is a potted history of the life of Augustine Phillips, player in the Lord Chamberlin's Men, with the details taken from documented records.Support the podcast at:www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.comwww.ko-fi.com/thoetpwww.patreon.com/thoetp
11-December-2023
Episode 112:To close season five of the podcast I pick up three items I dropped in the previous narrative and then offer some concluding thoughts:Thomas Watson – the life and works of the possible co-author of ‘Arden of Faversham.Henry [...]
27-November-2023
Episode 111:The true story behind 'Arden of Faversham'The plot outline of the playIs the domestic tragedy really tragedy?The main themes of the playThe domestic eating of the playThe low charactersThe role of destiny in the playQuestions of authorshipOther surviving [...]
13-November-2023
Episode 110:The problems of the lack of evidence about conventions and acting style.How a player learned his craft.The rhetorical or performance style of acting.Theatre as a poetic form.The rhetorical style is overtaken by a more naturalistic style.Stage sets and [...]
30-October-2023
Episode 109:We don't know a lot about individual players of the Elizabethan and Jacobean stage, but there are three stars of the day that we have some information about. Richard Tarlton, the Queen’s favourite comic player.Will Kempe’s origins and [...]
16-October-2023
Episode 108:The second part of the story of Thomas Dekker and his works'Old Fortunas' - Dekker's first known play‘The Honest Whore’, a good example of what was good and bad in Dekker’s work.‘The Civil Wars in France’ - three [...]