Category Archives: Shakespeare on Stage

The end of a tradition: Charlecote’s deer and Nigel Playfair’s As You Like It

As You Like It was in the very first season of plays performed at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in April-May 1879. With its references to the Forest of Arden the gently romantic comedy was bound to please. The other Shakespeares … Continue reading

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Shakespeare’s Richard II and the Essex rebellion

On this weekend in early February 1601 Shakespeare’s play Richard II was famously performed by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men in advance of the treacherous Essex rebellion. Just a few days later Augustine Phillips, the spokesman for Shakespeare’s company the Lord … Continue reading

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Picturing Shakespeare’s characters

My last post was about processions of people dressed as Shakespeare’s characters, especially in relation to David Garrick’s The Jubilee. It’s as if they have a life independent of the plays, so nobody would be surprised to see Falstaff, Juliet … Continue reading

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Taking to the streets with Shakespeare’s characters

Shakespeare celebrations in Stratford have taken many forms over the past two and a half centuries. I’ve written before about the history of holding feasts, an essential component of any party. But what’s also notable is the tradition of characters … Continue reading

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Erica Whyman and Buzz Goodbody: championing The Other Place

Back in July 2012 I wondered what the impact of having a young woman, Erica Whyman, as Deputy Artistic Director would be on the RSC.  Earlier this week I got the chance to find out when Erica spoke to the … Continue reading

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Shakespeare’s heroes on stage and screen

Shakespeare is never short of media attention, but just at the moment some of his heroes or at least his leading men, are much in the news. This week King Lear begins its previews at the National Theatre, featuring probably … Continue reading

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In with the new: welcoming the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

On 9 January 2014 the great Jacobean tragedy The Duchess of Malfi will be the first play to be performed at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, the second performance space in the Shakespeare’s Globe complex on the south bank of the … Continue reading

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Staging the caskets: The Merchant of Venice

  As a man of the theatre, Shakespeare must always have written his scenes with an idea of how they would be performed, though given the limited technical scope of theatres at the time he does sometimes seem to have made it … Continue reading

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Shakespeare’s Hamlet and the charisma of acting

Since the the death of Peter O’Toole was announced on Sunday the media have been full of reminiscences of him. It’s noticeable that he is remembered for his larger-than-life character and skills as a raconteur almost as much as for his … Continue reading

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Shakespeare in Germany

No country outside the UK can boast a longer history of involvement with Shakespeare than Germany. During Shakespeare’s lifetime companies of English players performed at the courts of German princes, and there were even purpose-built playhouses remarkably like English playhouses … Continue reading

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