Beyond Shakespeare

A read through and discussion of Christ's Resurrection, as seen on our YouTube exploring sessions in another of our occasional cross over episodes. The play comes from the Digby manuscript - a collection of late medieval/early Tudor drama, this text dating to the first quarter of the 16th century, around 1520ish. This play is supposed to be played on Easter Day, following Christ's Burial which was performed on Good Friday - see previous episode. With the reading talents of Lynn Freitas as Peter; Gregory Musson as Andrew; Alan Scott as John Evangelist; Liza Graham as Second Mary; Sarah Blake as Angel and Jesus; Alexandra Kataigida as Third Mary; Sascha Cooper as Magdalen. The host was Robert Crighton.  You can go to the video version of this episode here. If you want. It's pretty much exactly the same, just you can see our lips move - https://youtu.be/sgdnh3T0aqg 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.c

A read through and discussion of Christ's Burial, as seen on our YouTube exploring sessions in another of our occasional cross over episodes. The play comes from the Digby manuscript - a collection of late medieval/early Tudor drama, this text dating to the first quarter of the 16th century, around 1520ish. This play is supposed to be played in the afternoon of Good Friday, hence our dropping it here. It is followed by Christ's Resurrection for Easter Day. Which will also drop this weekend. CW: It is an exposition on grief, so this packs a punch, and also features some early modern religious intolerance. Featuring the reading talents of Liza Graham as John Evangelist; Sarah Blake as Mary 3 / Virgin Mary; Stephen Longstaffe as Joseph of Aramathia; Sascha Cooper as Magdalen (or in the text Maudlyn); Alan Scott as Nicodemus; and Georgia Andrews as Mary or Maries when in unison. The host was Robert Crighton.  You can go to the video version of this episode here. If you want. It's pretty much exactly the same, ju

Chess Pieces: Exploring A Game at Chess by Thomas Middleton A planning session for our future productions of A Game at Chess by Middleton. We open with sections of Act Two, Scene Two and Act Three, Scene One - wrestling with the introduction of the Fat Bishop. There are fewer structural adaptive questions to solve in this scene, but it contains material that might help with issues we had adapting Act 1. With Gregory Musson, Liza Graham, Lynsey Beauchamp, Tom Helsby. The host was Robert Crighton. Our initial First Look Exploring Session can be found on our YouTube channel - feel free to browse, like, subscribe - and all that malarky. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLflmEwgdfKoJWOdHzBzkdJXtRR7UkydSW 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 if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/beyondshakespeare - or if you want to give us some feedback, email us at admin@

A series of podcasts looking at plays we'd like to see, where we and guests pitch a Fantasy Production. With much merriment and chat, we explore different media, different approaches and a different play each session. Each play has been covered on our YouTube channel, or on the podcast, so you can dig deeper into the text if you'd like. Regular segments include - Cocktail Minute (a play themed cocktail), and from the Chatroom (reactions to the play in chat from our readings). Contributors include: Liza Graham, Alexandra Kataigida, Sarah Blake (cocktail minute), and host Robert Crighton Episode Three: King Leir - a dive into ancient Briton with more goodwill and humour than you might expect. Catch up with our First and Second Look Explorings of the play via this handy playlist! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLflmEwgdfKoJehRmgu4lWLbXjnVKBViZe Contribute to our work specifically via King Leir paypal There will one day be some King Leir merchandise - coming soon! Join our Patreon to listen

A read through and discussion of The Conversion of St Paul, as seen on our YouTube exploring sessions in another of our occasional cross over episodes. The play comes from the Digby manuscript - a collection of late medieval/early Tudor drama, this text dating to the first quarter of the 16th century. There's a bit of a rotation of readers as we played through the text, but it features Gregory Musson as Caiaphas, Servant, Belial; Alexandra Kataigida as Saul and Mercury; Sally Barnden as 1st Knight, various incarnations of Deus, and the Servant to the High Priests. With Liza Graham joining us later on to read Annas and Angel.  The Poet was split between the company. You can go to the video version of this episode here. If you want. It's pretty much exactly the same, just you can see our lips move - https://youtu.be/iIj1Ip7lk-w 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 if you'd li

Fragments: Temperance and Humility by the Unknown - from the press of Wynkyn de Worde around the 1520's/30's. It might be linked to another fragmentary play The Four Cardinal Virtues - more on that later in the year. In the fragment known as Temperance and Humility by the Unknown - Pamela Flanagan was Temperance, Gillian Horgan - Disobedience, and Leigh McDonald - Humility.  The host was Robert Crighton, who also produced this recording. Additional links and material -  Exploring Session on Temperance and Humility - https://audioboom.com/posts/7137916-exploring-temperance-and-humility Exploring Session on The Four Cardinal Virtues - https://audioboom.com/posts/7144341-exploring-the-four-cardinal-virtues General Fragments Playlist - https://audioboom.com/playlists/4620050-fragments 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 if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko

A read through and discussion of Bosworth Field, a narrative poem by Sir John Beaumont published posthumously in 1629, telling the events of the battle of Bosworth in 1485. The poem isn't split into parts, and some of the splits are inexact, but roughly the readers were Eric Karoulla as Henry VI, Brakenbury, Ferrers, Talbot, Bourchier, Clifton; Liza Graham  as Norfolk, Stanley, Richmond, Percy, Surrey, Scout, Byron, Catesby; Emma Kemp as narrator for Richard's forces; Gina Moravec as Richard, Oxford, Hungerford. The host was Robert Crighton, who also read narration from the side of Richmond's forces. This continues our exploration of history plays/texts - especially on Richard III. Continue the journey with our work on The True Tragedy of Richard III - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VTVSKpMIFI&list=PLflmEwgdfKoLqof8eUWJU5EEJXr93e56y Or, The Ghost of Richard III - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0DblYYO8cQ Or, our discussing episode on Ghost - https://audioboom.com/posts/7633017-discussing-the-ghos

A read through and discussion of Calisto and Melebea, from the press of John Rastell Another in our occasional series of cross overs with our YouTube channel, this is a Second Look read through and discussion of Calisto and Melebea, coming from the printing press of John Rastell around 1525. It's an adaptation of a Spanish book/play Celestina, later published in English as The Spanish Bawd. This is our first take, recorded in 2021, returning to the play after a year or so, as prep for a more detailed run - the video of which can be watched here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlkGUCoxIwQ With Gregory Musson as Danio; Eric Karoulla as Calisto; Rachael Nicole as Melebea; Lynsey Beauchamp as Celestina; Alex Scott Fairley as Parmeno; Alexandra Kataigida as Sempronio. The host was Robert Crighton. The character of Celestina has many parallels in Dame Sirith and other texts. We haven't released our work on Dame Sirith at time of release, but the mentioned work on Interludium de Clerico et Puella is on the po

Chess Pieces: Exploring A Game at Chess by Thomas Middleton A planning session for our future productions of A Game at Chess by Middleton. We open Act Two, Scene One - CW: It features an attempted sexual assault. There are fewer structural adaptive questions to solve in this scene, but it contains material that might help with issues we had adapting Act 1. With Eric Karoulla, Liza Graham, Lynsey Beauchamp and Emma Kemp. The host was Robert Crighton. Our initial First Look Exploring Session can be found on our YouTube channel - feel free to browse, like, subscribe - and all that malarky. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLflmEwgdfKoJWOdHzBzkdJXtRR7UkydSW 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 if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/beyondshakespeare - or if you want to give us some feedback, email us at admin@beyondshakespeare.org, follow us on Twitter, F

Another in our occasional series of cross overs with our YouTube channel, this is a Second Look read through and discussion of The Four Elements by John Rastell, a fragmentary play from around 1519. This is our first take, recorded in 2021, returning to the play after a year or so, as prep for a more detailed run - the video of which can be watched here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlkGUCoxIwQ With Gregory Musson as Humanity; Eric Karoulla as Ignorance; Liza Graham as Sensual Appetite; Rachael Nicole as Studious Desire; Lynsey Beauchamp as The Messenger, Experience; Alex Scott Fairley as Nature, Taverner. The host was Robert Crighton. All the videos on The Four Elements can be viewed via this handy playlist - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAKX-oxejjs&list=PLflmEwgdfKoIsAsJqQvUYr5ItLoFVA2Lo To learn more about John Rastell, go to our Discussion episode on the man and his writing - https://audioboom.com/posts/7013153-discussing-john-rastell There's an interesting exposition of the globe/maps in t

A series of podcasts looking at plays we'd like to see, where we and guests pitch a Fantasy Production. With much merriment and chat, we explore different media, different approaches and a different play each session. Each play has been covered on our YouTube channel, or on the podcast, so you can dig deeper into the text if you'd like. Regular segments include - Cocktail Minute (a play themed cocktail), from the Chatroom (reactions to the play in chat from our readings), and Fake Movie Trailers. Contributors include: Liza Graham, Alexandra Kataigida, Sarah Blake, and host Robert Crighton Episode One: George-a-Greene - a super fun part of the Robin Hood extended universe. Contribute to our work specifically on George-a-Greene via paypay. There will soon be some George-a-Greene merchandise - coming soon! Join our Patreon to listen to uncut versions of the podcast - full audio (£5 tier) or watch the uncut video version (£10). This version features additional sfx and music from zapsplat.com Watc

A simultaneous release with our YouTube channel, this is a Second Look read through and discussion of The Tragedy of Iphigeneia by Jane, Lady Lumley, written about 1553. With Eric Karoulla as Achilles; Alan Scott as Menelaus; Elizabeth Amisu as Cytemnestra; Rachael Nicole as Iphigeneia; Sarah Blake as Agamemnon; Helen Good as Nuncius; Lynn Freitas as Senex. The host was Robert Crighton who also read the Chorus. 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 if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/beyondshakespeare - or if you want to give us some feedback, email us at admin@beyondshakespeare.org, follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram @BeyondShakes or go to our website: https://beyondshakespeare.org You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel where (most of) our exploring sessions live - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLa4pXxGZFwTX4QSaB5XNdQ The Beyond S

Fragments: The Prodigal Son by the Unknown - from the press of William Rastell, possibly around 1530. It's a return to full cast audio production this year, with this short fragment of The Prodigal Son plus introductory exposition.  CW: The text plays with misogynistic ideas of the shrewish wife, and there is an unfortunate use of a word which has an alternative modern meaning to firewood. In the fragment known as The Prodigal Son, or Pater, Filius et Uxor - Uxor was played by Leigh McDonald; Pater by Geir Madland; Filius by Simon Nader, and the servant, Robert Crighton. The Prodigal Son was hosted and produced by Robert Crighton. Additional links and material. The Prodigal Son - First Look Exploring Session on the podcast -  https://audioboom.com/posts/7322186-exploring-the-prodigal-son-fragment The Disobedient Child - First Look on the podcast - https://audioboom.com/posts/7548404-exploring-the-disobedient-child Second Look fast paced run on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdP4mVy3OZw The Bey

Chess Pieces: Exploring A Game at Chess by Thomas Middleton, part 2. Welcome to a series of podcasts looking at A Game at Chess by Thomas Middleton, specifically asking questions as to how to produce it a. as a full cast audio adaptation and b. as a live stage show in miniature and in full. This session covers the continuing issues of exposition in the opening of the play (completing our survey of Act 1), questions of names and how to get across who anyone is. These are opening gambits towards our full cast audio adaptation for the podcast, with an endgame of a full scale production further down the road. In the room were Eric Karoulla, Alan Scott, Lynn Freitas, Helen Good, Emma Kemp. and host Robert Crighton. Our initial First Look Exploring Session can be found on our YouTube channel - feel free to browse, like, subscribe - and all that malarky. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLflmEwgdfKoJWOdHzBzkdJXtRR7UkydSW The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is supported by its patrons – become a patron and you get to

Happy New Year! This is a simultaneous release on YouTube and the podcast - there are some bits that are more videoy (sorry podcast people, it wasn't supposed to be that way, Robert forgot (Robert forgets what year it is, so it's downhill all the way)). Anyway... Happy New Year! New stuff is coming, old stuff is coming, more stuff is coming. YouTube version can be found here - https://youtu.be/dBXCwTbYqAs 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 if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/beyondshakespeare - or if you want to give us some feedback, email us at admin@beyondshakespeare.org, follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram @BeyondShakes or go to our website: https://beyondshakespeare.org You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel where (most of) our exploring sessions live (apart from early N-Town stuff) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLa4pXxGZ

A First Look read through and discussion of Narcissus: A Twelfth Night Merriment, performed on Thursday 6th January 1602 (or new style 1603). This is a merriment performed at St John's College, Oxford, and is both incredibly self indulgent, and rather silly. Merry Christmas! This is a simultaneous release with our YouTube channel, where most First Look explorations live. With Eric Karoulla as Primus, Cephisus, Clinias; Alan Scott as Secundus, Tyresias, Cloris; Sarah Blake as Tertius, Lyriope, Florida, Echo; Emma Kemp as Prologue, Narcissus, One With Bucket; Briony Sparrow as Porter, Dorastus. The host was Robert Crighton. 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 if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/beyondshakespeare - or if you want to give us some feedback, email us at admin@beyondshakespeare.org, follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram @BeyondShak

Triumph 1621: Reconstructing: The Sun in Aries by Thomas Middleton. This is mostly an uncut recording of the 12pm show, our first of the day, from various outdoor recording positions that have been edited together into one track. It was not an ideal day to record on - it had rained for most of the morning and, though this performance was dry, our equipment was still largely covered in plastic. A few sections have been taken from other parts of the day for technical reasons. There will be a SPOILERS episode of the podcast coming out next year, where we explicate a bit about what's going on in the original show, as the text survives to us.  Do go to our website where there are photos and links to videos about the show - or there will be very shortly.  The Sun in Aries by Thomas Middleton, performed from 12pm on Friday 29th October 2021, 400 years after the original performance in 1621 COMPANY: Crier - Aliki Chapple Thomas Middleton - Alexandra Kataigida Jason - Charlie Beer Fame - Holly Bartlett Giles The Re-

A reading of an edited version of Gentleness and Nobility by John Heywood and John Rastell, performed before a live audience in 2018. A Knight overhears a Merchant boasting of his nobleness, sparking an argument between the two as to what is a gentleman. They are further interrupted by a Ploughman, whose debating style is a little more… violent. With Rob Myson as the Merchant, Heydn McCabe as the Knight and Geir Madland as the Ploughman.  The host is Robert Crighton We've a lot of stuff on John Heywood - including a full cast uncut audio adaptation of the play - https://audioboom.com/posts/6948279-gentleness-and-nobility-by-john-heywood In fact, we've done ALL the plays of John Heywood, plus a host of background stuff - https://audioboom.com/playlists/4620013-the-plays-of-john-heywood John Heywood exploring sessions can be found on our YouTube channel - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLflmEwgdfKoKffZtkgZ7mUYF_d1mD72fr For more information about this podcast go to our website - http://beyondshakes

Chess Pieces: Exploring A Game at Chess by Thomas Middleton, part 1. Welcome to a series of podcasts looking at A Game at Chess by Thomas Middleton, specifically asking questions as to how to produce it a. as a full cast audio adaptation and b. as a live stage show in miniature and in full. This session covers the problems of exposition in the opening of the play (Induction and the opening of Act 1), questions of names and how to get across who anyone is. This is an opening gambit towards our full cast audio adaptation for the podcast, with an endgame of a full scale production further down the road. In the room were Gregory Musson, Lynsey Beauchamp and host Robert Crighton. Our initial First Look Exploring Session can be found on our YouTube channel - feel free to browse, like, subscribe - and all that malarky. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLflmEwgdfKoJWOdHzBzkdJXtRR7UkydSW The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is supported by its patrons – become a patron and you get to choose the plays we work on next. G

Today we discuss the playwright Robert Greene, the breadth of his output (with some focus on his play Alphonsus), with Dr Darren Freebury-Jones. How many of the surviving selection of plays from the 1580's/90's are by Greene? How can we sift the evidence? Which plays can we be sure about, and which plays are on the fuzzy border?  Dr Darren Freebury-Jones is a Shakespeare lecturer in Stratford-upon-Avon. His 2016 doctoral thesis examined Thomas Kyd’s influence on Shakespeare’s early work and he is the Associate Editor for the first edition of Kyd’s collected works since 1901. He has also investigated the boundaries of John Marston’s dramatic corpus as part of the Oxford Marston project. His recent and forthcoming essays on the plays of authors such as Shakespeare, Kyd, Lyly, Marlowe, Greene, Peele, Nashe, Marston, Dekker, Fletcher, Behn, and others can be found in a wide range of peer-reviewed journals as well as in books by Routledge, Boydell and Brewer, and Oxford University Press. He is the author of the f