Shakespeare Alive

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Theatre professionals, artists, vloggers and other guests from around the world join resident Shakespeare Birthplace Trust experts Paul and Anjna to discuss Shakespeare's place in the 21st century. We hear about their relationships with Shakespeare in the modern world and take a fresh look at Shakespeare in today's society.

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

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    • Sep 13, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 29m AVG DURATION
    • 25 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Shakespeare Alive

    24. Freddie Fox on Performing Hamlet

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2022 33:40 Transcription Available


    Award-winning actor, Freddie Fox, speaks to Anjna about performing Hamlet, a last-minute Romeo, his love of poetry, and his dream of one day playing romantic hero, Benedick. Please note that Freddie uses an expletive (sh**) on one occasion.Support the show

    23. Adrian Lester on his Shakesperian Roles

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2022 31:27 Transcription Available


    The award-winning actor, Adrian Lester, speaks to Paul about his Shakespearian roles – Rosalind, Henry V, Hamlet, and Othello – working with the late, great director Peter Brook, his portrayal of the pioneering nineteenth-century actor Ira Aldridge, and about why Shakespeare matters.Support the show

    22. Evie Gurney on her Process and Costume Design

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2022 33:49 Transcription Available


    Award-winning costume designer, Evie Gurney, speaks to Anjna about her costumes for the National Theatre's Antony and Cleopatra and the 2022 production of Much Ado About Nothing, as well as her process and aspirations for costume design in the theatre.Support the show

    21. Lisa Wolpe on Shakespeare and Gender

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2022 27:10 Transcription Available


    Paul speaks to the internationally acclaimed actor, director, and visionary, Lisa Wolpe, who continues to be at the forefront of the movement for gender parity and diversity in the arts with a special focus on Shakespeare and Gender.Support the show

    20. Not Another Shakespeare Podcast on their mission to humanise early modern drama

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2022 33:42 Transcription Available


    Hosts of the popular podcast Not Another Shakespeare Podcast, James and Nora, speak to Anjna about their mission to humanise early modern drama, making it fun (and sometimes silly) for their audiences. They also have an incredible film recommendation.Support the show

    19. Antoni Cimolino on the Stratford Festival

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2022 31:22 Transcription Available


    The Stratford Festival, Ontario began in 1953. A newly-enhanced Tom Patterson Theatre has just opened, named after the festival's founding-visionary. Paul speaks to the current artistic director, Antoni Cimolino, to find out more their vibrant work and aspirations.Support the show

    Introducing Series 3 of Shakespeare Alive

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2022 0:36


    Support the show

    18. Sukanta Chaudhuri On 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' - in India.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2021 30:48 Transcription Available


     Professor Sukanta Chaudhuri talks to Paul Edmondson about Shakespeare in India and about editing A Midsummer Night's Dream .Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    17. Bill Barclay on Shakespeare and Music

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 34:45


    Former Director of Music at Shakespeare's Globe, Bill Barclay, tells Anjna all about the place of music in Shakespeare, and passing the proverbial torch to the next generation of theatre-makers. Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    16. Michelle Terry on Shakespeare's Globe

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2021 29:44 Transcription Available


    Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Globe, Michelle Terry, shares her journeys and wisdom with Paul. Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    The Shakespeare Link with Phil Bowen and Sue Best

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2021 32:57


    Phil Bowen and Sue Best, the couple behind The Shakepseare Link, tell Anjna all about setting up their remarkable charity, building their stunning replica of Shakespeare's Globe out of willow, and their exciting adventures in the digital world. Remember to rate and review Shakespeare Alive and complete our survey by visiting: www.shakespeare.org.uk/futureSupport the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    Michael Witmore on the Folger Shakespeare Library

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2021 33:26 Transcription Available


    Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C., Michael Witmore, talks to Paul about the history of the library and some of his favourite items in its collection, as well as the Folger's iconic location.Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    Shakespeare and East Asia with Alexa Alice Joubin

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 33:06 Transcription Available


    Alexa, Professor of English at George Washington University, talks to Anjna about her fascinating research and new book,  Shakespeare and East Asia (OUP, 2021). Covering everything from Romeo and Juliet in Singlish, to Japanese productions of King Lear, Alexa offers a crucial and much-needed insight into the political as well as cultural significance of Shakespeare across East Asia.  She also chooses a coveted delight from our collection, and makes a superb suggestion for a Singaporean addition to our archive. Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    Introducing Series 3 of Shakespeare Alive

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2021 1:11


    A glimpse of what is to come on series three of Shakespeare Alive, including the voices of Michelle Terry, Bill Barclay and Alexa Alice Joubin. Subscribe and remember to rate our show on Apple Podcasts, or your usual podcast platform. Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    12. Journeying with Shakespeare with Dr Islam Issa

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2021 32:01


    Writer and broadcaster, Islam Issa of Birmingham City University, talks to Paul about his own Egyptian identity and Shakespeare, and how this relates to his teaching, career, and life.Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    11. Global Shakespeares with Professor Jyotsna Singh

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2021 32:14


    Professor Jyotsna Singh from Michigan State University talks to Anjna about growing up in India, Shakespeare and Indian cinema, and decolonising Shakespeare in global interpretations and scholarship. Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    9. The Guildford Shakespeare Company with Matt Pinches

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2021 30:06


    Matt Pinches from the award-winning Guildford Shakespeare Company talks to Anjna about its 15 year journey, and what the future may hold for the charitable organisation. Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    8. Flute Theatre with Kelly Hunter

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2021 35:42 Transcription Available


    Paul speaks with actress and founder of Flute Theatre , Kelly Hunter MBE, about using Shakespeare to engage with young people living with autism. Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    7. The Show Must Go Online with Rob Myles

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2021 33:51 Transcription Available


    Rob Myles, Artistic Director of The Show Must Go Online, talks to Anjna about directing 36 plays online in the year of Covid. Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    6. Reviewing Shakespeare, with Nathan and Simon Dowling

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 38:14 Transcription Available


    Nathan and Simon Dowling are the faces and masterminds of the YouTube channel, The Break A Leggers. In the final episode of this series Anjna talks to them about their experiences of reviewing theatre and their expectations of watching Shakespeare live in the modern world.Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    5. Directing Shakespeare, with Gregory Doran

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 31:05 Transcription Available


    Paul talks to Gregory Doran, the artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, about what made him a Shakespearian and what that means to him personally, and to the company. They also discuss cross-gendered casting, and how theatrical performance brings Shakespeare to life in our own time and culture.Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    4. Resurrecting Shakespeare, with Victoria Gartner

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 28:53 Transcription Available


    This week’s guest is the founder of theatre company Will & Co, Victoria Baumgartner. We’ll be talking about her play Will and hearing all about her groundbreaking project to bring Shakespeare to your own doorstep during the Covid 19 pandemic. Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    3. Becoming Othello, with Debra Ann Byrd

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 30:47 Transcription Available


    Paul chats to Debra Ann Byrd, the entrepreneurial artistic director of the Harlem Shakespeare Festival, about why she founded her company, what it does, and about her important and inspiring memoir; Becoming Othello, A Black Girl’s Journey.Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    2. Illustrating Shakespeare, with Mya Gosling

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 31:52 Transcription Available


    Anjna’s joined by stick figure artist and Shakespeare super-fan Mya Gosling, creator of the web comic Good Tickle Brain. Join us as we discuss how Mya breaks down barriers to Shakespeare, making his works feel accessible and, most importantly, fun.Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

    1. Shakespeare and Race, with Farah Karim-Cooper

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2020 35:31 Transcription Available


    Farah Karim-Cooper, Head of Higher Education and Research at Shakespeare's Globe, talks to Paul about her first encounter with Shakespeare, her experiences of academia and her work on the Shakespeare and Race festival.Support the show (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/podcast-support)

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