Beyond Shakespeare

Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (Act 3) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Gammer Gurton's Needle by Mr S. We present a run down of the action, with commentary and clips, followed by a plain text recording of material in the edit for the final full cast audio adaptation (coming soon!) It's Act Three (feel free to go back to the prologue and act 1/2 if you want to work chronologically), in which Gammer and Dame Chat fight it out in a serious grudge match. The plain text version is performed by Heydn McCabe as Diccon the Bedlam, Geir Madland as Hodge, Pamela Flanagan as Dame Chat, and Sarah Golding as Gammer Gurton - with Simon Nader as Cock and Gillian Horgan as Tyb. The host is Robert Crighton. BE WARNED - If you just want to listen to the play as a play, don't listen to the spoilers episodes. Come back later, or don't listen. However, if you find early drama hard to follow, then you will get a good grounding in the action here - especially as we may make changes or cuts for our final vers

Exploring: The Prodigal Son (Pater, Filius et Uxor) - A Fragment (printed c.1530) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this fragmentary play for future use towards an audio/stage show. The Prodigal Son survives as 84 lines of text, showing a wife threatening her husband with being made a cuckold, a son failing to sell wood, and a comic servant character making his entrance. Introduced by host Robert Crighton. The Beyond Shakespeare Irregulars this episode are Liz Cole as Uxor, Richard Fawcett as Pater, Mark Scanlon as Filius, and your host Robert Crighton, reading the part of the servant. You can follow the text via this link - your thoughts and comments are welcome. https://archive.org/details/collections01malouoft/page/n41 The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is supported by its patrons – become a patron and you get to choose the plays we work on next. Go to www.patreon.com/beyondshakespeare or follow us on Twitter @BeyondShakes or even go to our website: https://beyondshakespeare.org

Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (Act 2) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Gammer Gurton's Needle by Mr S. We present a run down of the action, with commentary and clips, followed by a plain text recording of material in the edit for the final full cast audio adaptation (coming soon!) It's Act Two (feel free to go back to the prologue and act one if you want to work chronologically), in which Diccon stirs some shit, Gammer and Dame Chat lose their shit, and Hodge does a shit. In his pants. More scatological fun from the early modern. The plain text version is performed by Heydn McCabe as Diccon the Bedlam, Geir Madland as Hodge, Pamela Flanagan as Dame Chat, and Sarah Golding as Gammer Gurton. The host is Robert Crighton. BE WARNED - If you just want to listen to the play as a play, don't listen to the spoilers episodes. Come back later, or don't listen. However, if you find early drama hard to follow, then you will get a good grounding in the action here - especially as we may make change

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 16 (The Trial) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future use towards an audio/stage show. This is play 16 (to be followed by play 16a) of the Trial. Some violence and abusive language. The Beyond Shakespeare Irregulars this episode were Liz Cole, Mark Scanlon, and Alan Scott as everyone else – with host, Robert Crighton. There are more versions of the Chester plays than you can shake a stick at - (actually there are eight) - so any text you use to follow will probably be a bit different to ours (for the sticklers, our base text was H, except for play five, where it was just easier to go for a group text (D-or Hm, A, R, B) composite - though some readings may have been borrowed from all). However, you don't necessarily need to worry about such things, so here's a nice friendly modern spelling version we found online. http://groups.chass.utoronto.ca/plspls/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/index.html The Beyond Shakespeare

Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (Act 1) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Gammer Gurton's Needle by Mr S. We present a run down of the action, with commentary and clips, followed by a plain text recording of material in the edit for the final full cast audio adaptation (coming soon!) Today it's Act One (feel free to go back to the prologue if you want to work chronologically), which sets up the primary thrust of the action of the play, the loss of Gammer Gurton's needle.  The plain text version is performed by Heydn McCabe as Diccon the Bedlam, Geir Madland as Hodge, Gillian Horgan as Tib, Sarah Golding as Gammer Gurton and Simon Nader as Cock.. The host is Robert Crighton. BE WARNED - If you just want to listen to the play as a play, don't listen to the spoilers episodes. Come back later, or don't listen. However, if you find early drama hard to follow, then you will get a good grounding in the action here - especially as we may make changes or cuts for our final version! The plain text

The Poetaster by Ben Jonson (Prologue) - What's Past Is Prologue A performance of the pre-show material to The Poetaster by Ben Jonson. It's a fun start which is very much caught up in attacking Jonson's rivals. We;'re only slightly joking when we suggest you watch this video at the same time as the introduction to the podcast - https://youtu.be/3tmd-ClpJxA - because there is a relationship between what this prologue is trying to do, and the public feuds that we see in modern media. And they both have snakes. If you'd like to make us to do a full audio production of this play, join us on patreon and choose this play at the next vote. www.patreon.com/beyondshakespeare or you can follow us on Twitter @BeyondShakes - or go to our website beyondshakespeare.org Envy is performed by Sarah Golding, the Prologue by Rob Myson and the episode is hosted and produced by Robert Crighton.  Additional sound effects from the wonderful people at http://www.freesfx.co.uk

Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (The Prologue) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Gammer Gurton's Needle by Mr S. We present a run down of the action, with commentary and clips, followed by a plain text recording of material in the edit for the final full cast audio adaptation (coming soon!) Today it's the prologue, which lays out (almost) the entire plot of the play, including the biggest spoiler of them all - the location of Gammer Gurton's Needle. Tension in this play, there is none. The prologue is performed by Adam Thurkettle. The host is Robert Crighton. BE WARNED - If you just want to listen to the play as a play, don't listen to the spoilers episodes. Come back later, or don't listen. However, if you find early drama hard to follow, then you will get a good grounding in the action here - especially as we may make changes or cuts for our final version! The plain text version is rough in hew, it will change and we produce it in part to hunt out errors.  You can follow the text online

Discussing: The York Corpus Christi Play Host Robert Crighton discusses with Dr Christina M. Fitzgerald the York Corpus Christi Play and her Broadview edition of 27 selected pageants – which can be found in all good bookshops or via this link - https://broadviewpress.com/product/the-york-corpus-christi-play-selected-pageants/?ph=9aca224f1207703b2563bc35#tab-description Dr Christina M. Fitzgerald (Ph.D. UCLA) teaches English literature, specializing in the medieval period at the University of Toledo. The Drama of Masculinity and Medieval English Guild Culture, Palgrave Macmillan (2007), co-editor of The Broadview Anthology of Medieval Drama (2012), with John T. Sebastian and editor of The York Corpus Christi Play: Selected Pageants (Broadview, 2018).  Also briefly mentioned in the podcast is Impossible Plays by Keith Dewhurst and Jack Shepherd - which is a great read. Support this podcast by going to www.patreon.com/beyondshakespeare, or follow us @BeyondShakes on Twitter, or visit our website www.beyondshake

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 15 From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future use towards an audio/stage show. This is the Bakers play of the Last Supper and Betrayal. Some ear splitting action. The Beyond Shakespeare Irregulars this episode were Richard Fawcett as Jesus, with Liz Cole, Mark Scanlon, Mark Saberton and Alan Scott as everyone else – with host, Robert Crighton. There are more versions of the Chester plays than you can shake a stick at - (actually there are eight) - so any text you use to follow will probably be a bit different to ours (for the sticklers, our base text was H, except for play five, where it was just easier to go for a group text (D-or Hm, A, R, B) composite - though some readings may have been borrowed from all). However, you don't necessarily need to worry about such things, so here's a nice friendly modern spelling version we found online. http://groups.chass.utoronto.ca/plspls/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/index.html

The Family of Love by Somebody (Prologue) - What's Past Is Prologue A performance of the prologue to The Family of Love by various possible contenders (we're not really sure if we should take sides on fiddly authorship questions). If you'd like to make us to do a full audio production of this play, join us on patreon and choose this play at the next vote. www.patreon.com/beyondshakespeare or you can follow us on Twitter @BeyondShakes - or go to our website beyondshakespeare.org Prologue performed by Sarah Golding, produced by Robert Crighton.   Additional sound effects from the wonderful people at http://www.freesfx.co.uk

A Full Cast Audio Adaptation of Jack Juggler Jack Juggler decides to get his revenge on one Jenkin Careaway, a servant to Master Bongrace. He does this by stealing the identity of Careaway, and causing his mistress and master to turn against him. A knockabout Tudor comedy, probably originally performed by children or students, first printed in 1575. This is the first play from our season of work chosen by our patrons. To get involved in deciding our future seasons, become a patron today! Jack Juggler is performed by Heydn McCabe, Jenkin Careaway by Simon Nader. With Leigh McDonald as Dame Coye, Nemonee Stone as Alice Trip and Go, and Geir Madland as Master Bongrace. The Prologue and Epilogue is performed by Rob Myson. Additional voices by Robert Crighton. Pollie Hall, and the Beyond Shakespeare Irregulars.  Jack Juggler is produced by Robert Crighton, with most of the location sound recorded in Bury St Edmunds - except for the opening school sounds, from the wonderful people at http://www.freesfx.co.uk Yo

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 14 From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future use towards an audio/stage show.  We're playing around with how to make these pieces come alive for people today, starting with these recordings of reads through and workshops.  Chester play 14 is the Corvisors (Shoemaker's) play of the entry into Jerusalem, Mary Magdalene, overturning the tables of the money changers and the meeting of Judas with Annas and Caiaphas. It's a busy play, and that's not the half of it. The Beyond Shakespeare Irregulars this episode are The Irregulars were Richard Fawcett as Jesus, with Liz Cole, Mark Scanlon, Mark Saberton and Alan Scott as everyone else – with host, Robert Crighton. There are more versions of the Chester plays than you can shake a stick at - (actually there are eight) - so any text you use to follow will probably be a bit different to ours (for the sticklers, our base text was H, except for play five, where it was just easier

Spoilers: Jack Juggler 6 (The Epilogue) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Jack Juggler by Someone. We present a run down of the action, with commentary and clips, followed by a plain text recording of material in the edit for the final full cast audio adaptation (coming soon!)    Today it's the epilogue, which attempts a desperate moral rearguard action to give the play a purpose not hinted at in the prologue.  The epilogue is performed by Rob Myson.  The host is Robert Crighton. BE WARNED - If you just want to listen to the play as a play, don't listen to the spoilers episodes. Come back later, or don't listen. However, if you find early drama hard to follow, then you will get a good grounding in the action here - especially as we may make changes or cuts for our final version! The plain text version is rough in hew, it will change and we produce it in part to hunt out errors.    You can follow the text online - though some texts are better than others. Good editions of the play ca

The Nice Valour by Various People (Prologue) - What's Past Is Prologue A performance of the prologue to The Nice Valour or, The Passionate Madman by various possible contenders (we're not really sure if we should take sides on fiddly authorship questions).  If you'd like to make us to do a full audio production of this play, join us on patreon and choose this play at the next vote. www.patreon.com/beyondshakespeare or you can follow us on Twitter @BeyondShakes - or go to our website beyondshakespeare.org Prologue performed by Sarah Golding, produced by Robert Crighton.   Additional sound effects from the wonderful people at http://www.freesfx.co.uk

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 13 From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future use towards an audio/stage show.  We're playing around with how to make these pieces come alive for people today, starting with these recordings of reads through and workshops.  Chester play 13 is the Glovers play of the healing of the blind man and the raising of Lazarus.  The Beyond Shakespeare Irregulars this episode are The Irregulars were Richard Fawcett as Jesus, with Liz Cole, Mark Scanlon and Alan Scott as everyone else – with host, Robert Crighton. There are more versions of the Chester plays than you can shake a stick at - (actually there are eight) - so any text you use to follow will probably be a bit different to ours (for the sticklers, our base text was H, except for play five, where it was just easier to go for a group text (D-or Hm, A, R, B) composite - though some readings may have been borrowed from all). However, you don't necessarily need to worry abou

Spoilers: Jack Juggler 5 (Close of Play, or Careaway's Excuses!) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Jack Juggler by Someone. We present a run down of the action, with commentary and clips, followed by a plain text recording of material in the edit for the final full cast audio adaptation (coming soon!)    Today it's the close of play where Jenkin Careaway is confronted by his mistress and master, and tries to explain what happened to him. Jack Juggler is performed by Heydn McCabe, Jenkin Careaway by Simon Nader. With Leigh McDonald as Dame Coye, Nemonee Stone as Alice Trip and Go, and Geir Madland as Master Bongrace. The host is Robert Crighton. BE WARNED - If you just want to listen to the play as a play, don't listen to the spoilers episodes. Come back later, or don't listen. However, if you find early drama hard to follow, then you will get a good grounding in the action here - especially as we may make changes or cuts for our final version! The plain text version is rough in hew, it

Two Angry Women of Abington by Henry Porter (Prologue) - What's Past Is Prologue A performance of the prologue to Two Angry Women of Abington by Henry Porter - the only play by Henry Porter that has survived the winds of history. He seems to have been fairly successful, until he was a tad bit murdered by another playwright. Everyone's a critic. If you'd like to make us to do a full audio production of this play, join us on patreon and choose this play at the next vote. www.patreon.com/beyondshakespeare or you can follow us on Twitter @BeyondShakes - or go to our website beyondshakespeare.org Prologue performed by Sarah Golding, produced by Robert Crighton.   Additional sound effects from the wonderful people at http://www.freesfx.co.uk

Spoilers: Jack Juggler 4 (The Big Scene, or I'm Jenkin Careaway!) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Jack Juggler by Someone. We present a run down of the action, with commentary and clips, followed by a plain text recording of material in the edit for the final full cast audio adaptation (coming soon!)    Today it's the big action scene where Jack Juggler confronts Jenkin Careaway and tries to convince him (Careaway) that he (Jack) is him (Careaway). Still with us? Jack Juggler is performed by Heydn McCabe and Jenkin Careaway by Simon Nader. The host is Robert Crighton. BE WARNED - If you just want to listen to the play as a play, don't listen to the spoilers episodes. Come back later, or don't listen. However, if you find early drama hard to follow, then you will get a good grounding in the action here - especially as we may make changes or cuts for our final version! The plain text version is rough in hew, it will change and we produce it in part to hunt out errors.    You can follow the

Cynthia's Revels, or the Fountain of Self Love by Ben Jonson (Prologue) - What's Past Is Prologue A performance of the prologue to Cynthia's Revels by Ben Jonson - the opening of the play is fairly complex, with an induction prior to this prologue. And yes, the subtitle is a bit unfortunate, but that's just because you have a filthy mind. If you'd like to make us to do a full audio production of this play, join us on patreon and choose this play at the next vote. [www.patreon.com/beyondshakespeare](https://patreon.com/beyondshakespeare) or you can follow us on Twitter @BeyondShakes - or go to our website beyondshakespeare.org Prologue performed by Sarah Golding, produced by Robert Crighton.   Additional sound effects from the wonderful people at http://www.freesfx.co.uk

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 12 The Bowchers Play, The Temptation & the Woman Taken in Adultery From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future use towards an audio/stage show. We're playing around with how to make these pieces come alive for people today, starting with these recordings of reads through and workshops. The Beyond Shakespeare Irregulars this episode are The Irregulars were Liz Cole as Satan and others, Richard Fawcett as Jesus, with Mark Scanlon and Mark Holtom as various others – with host, Robert Crighton. There are more versions of the Chester plays than you can shake a stick at - (actually there are eight) - so any text you use to follow will probably be a bit different to ours (for the sticklers, our base text was H, except for play five, where it was just easier to go for a group text (D-or Hm, A, R, B) composite - though some readings may have been borrowed from all). However, you don't necessarily need to worry about s