SoS #37 | Fiona Ritchie: Shakespeare in the 18th Century

08/30/22 • 76 min

Thomas Dabbs speaks with Fiona Ritchie of McGill University about her forthcoming book on 18th-century theatre entitled Shakespeare in the Theatre: Sarah Siddons and John Philip Kemble: Dabbs and Ritchie also discuss the role of women in the theatre and other elements of London and regional theatre during the 'long' 18th century, a period that dates from 1660 to 1830.

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SoS #36 | Lucy Munro: Shakespeare and the King's Men

Podcast at https://speakingofshakespeare.buzzsprout.com. Thomas Dabbs talks with Lucy Munro, King’s College, London, mainly about her recent book entitled ‘Shakespeare in the Theatre: The King’s Men’. Also Lucy gives her perspectives on London playhouses during Shakespeare’s time and beyond, with a particular focus on Blackfriars. This talk also covers elements of lost culture in Shakespeare’s time and the initiative to produce a lost play based on historical records entitled ‘Keep the Widow Waking’. There is also commentary on Lucy’s work in theatre architecture with regards to current-day reproductions of old theatres.

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SoS #38 | Christopher Highley: Blackfriars in Early Modern London

Christopher Highley of Ohio State University speaks with Thomas Dabbs about his recent book on the Blackfriars district in early modern London and also the Blackfriars complex from which the district got its name. Formed as a religious house for Dominican friars, the Blackfriars complex was repurposed during the Henrican Reformation and became the home for several notable theatre initiatives. In the early 17th century the Blackfriars theatre became a venue for Shakespeare and the King’s Men. Highley’s work provides a detailed view of the entire district, including a fresh understanding of the unique and intriguing religious and social features of the Blackfriars neighborhood during the early modern period.