Beyond Shakespeare

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 t...

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 Irr...

Spoilers: Jack Juggler (Careaway's Speech) 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 introduction to Jenkin Careaway, performed by Simon Nader - which is where the victim...

The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe (Prologue for performance at the Cockpit, by Thomas Heywood) - What's Past Is Prologue A performance of the prologue to The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe (c.1589), though this prologue for the Cockpit playhouse is by Thomas Heywood for a later revival around 1633. It has been recorded to frustrate everyone who wants to hear a full production, and as a...

Spoilers: Jack Juggler (Jack's Speech) 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 introduction to the title character, Jack Juggler, performed by Heydn McCabe - which is whe...

Discussing: Beware the Cat Host Robert Crighton discusses with Dr Rachel Stenner of the University of Sussex, Beware the Cat by William Baldwin - a book about talking cats which has been turned into a stage production. The project blog: https://bewarethecat.home.blog/ - or follow them on twitter @bewarecat   Dr Rachel Stenner is a lecturer in English Literature 1350-1660 at the University of Susse...

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play Eleven 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.   This episode focuses on play 11, the Blacksmiths play on the Purification of the Virgin,...

Spoilers: Jack Juggler (Prologue) 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 Prologue performed by Rob Myson - which is a fun start to the play, setting out what it is - and...

The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe (Prologue to the Court, by Thomas Heywood) - What's Past Is Prologue  A performance of the prologue to The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe (c.1589), though this prologue for the court is by Thomas Heywood for a later revival around 1633.  It has been recorded to frustrate everyone who wants to hear a full production, and as a sitting accusation to the wo...

It's voting time people - go to our patreon and support us, keep the wheels turning and reap the rewards. The current vote is open until the end of April 2019 - join our patreon at https://www.patreon.com/posts/25812756  and vote away.  It's also been a year since we started this whole podcast thing - thank you for listening and being there for us. If you can't join the patreon, consider giving us...

Interludium de Clerico et Puella or The Student and the Girl (Fragments) This fragmentary play comes from around 1300, and survives as two scenes - the first where a student tries to woo a young woman (Malkyn) who rebuffs him, the second where he goes to Mome Elwis, a wise woman, to seek her aid to changing Malkyns mind. The fragments end at this point and we never discover whether Elwis does assi...

Discussing: John Bale’s Biblical Plays Host Robert Crighton discusses with Dr Jeff S. Dailey the Biblical plays of John Bale - God's Promises, John Baptist's Preaching and The Temptation (of which we have recordings on the podcast).  Jeff Dailey produced two of John Bale’s Biblical plays in 2017 (John Baptist's Preaching and The Temptation) – details about the production, cast and photos, can be f...

Exploring Albion Knight - a fragment (c.1537-1566) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this fragmentary play for future use towards an audio/stage show. Albion Knight is about an attempt by two vice figures, Injury and Division, to disrupt the fair running of the realm by seeding, ahem, division between the various actors - in this fragment, Albion himself and Justice. W...

God's Promises by John Bale - Act 5, David A plain text version of Act 5 of God's Promises written by protestant playwright John Bale in 1538. This act sees God talking to King David, part of a procession of prophets, before finally preparing the way for the arrival of Jesus through speaking to John the Baptist. This is a follow up to a test recording made in 2013 and incorporates elements from th...

The Three Lords and Three Ladies of London (Prologue) - What's Past Is Prologue A performance of the prologue to The Three Lords and Three Ladies of London (c.1588) by Robert Wilson - recorded to frustrate everyone who wants to hear a full production, and as a sitting accusation to the world for not (necessarily) supplying one.  A bit of an introduction to this episode, as there's some visual busi...

Mortimer, His Fall – a tragedy by Ben Jonson (Fragment) Ben Jonson started writing his play about Mortimer, Earl of March - who was de facto ruler of England after bumping off Edward II - but sadly, he died before finishing it.  All that survives is an outline, and this short opening scene between Mortimer and the Queen Mother, Isabell - which we have dutifully recreated for you here. Enjoy. Morti...

Exploring Good Order, or Old Christmas - a fragment from c.1533 From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this fragmentary play for future use towards an audio/stage show. This fragment is from the end of the play, where Riot and Gluttony – having obviously caused some upset to the land – are having their fate decided by Old Christmas (the ruler), upon the advise of Good Order...

God's Promises by John Bale - Act 3, Abraham A plain text version of Act 3 of God's Promises written by protestant playwright John Bale in 1538. This act sees God talking to Abraham, part of a procession of prophets, before finally preparing the way for the arrival of Jesus through speaking to John the Baptist. This is a follow up to a test recording made in 2013 and incorporates elements from tha...

The Three Ladies of London (Prologue) - What's Past Is Prologue A performance of the prologue to The Three Ladies of London (1581/2) by Robert Wilson - recorded to frustrate everyone who wants to hear a full production, and as a sitting accusation to the world for not (necessarily) supplying one.    If you'd like to make us to do a full audio production of this play, join us on patreon and choose...

Exploring The Temptation by John Bale From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of John Bale’s biblical play, The Temptation, for future use towards an audio/stage show. Part of a surviving trilogy of plays, though more once existed or were planned, it follows Bale’s God’s Promises – recorded variously on the podcast – and John Baptist’s Preaching – which has been Explored as wel...

Tamburlaine the Great (Prologue) - What's Past Is Prologue A performance of the prologue to Tamburlaine the Great (later known as part 1 when the sequel is written) created by Christopher Marlowe in 1587 - recorded to frustrate everyone who wants to hear a full production, and as a sitting accusation to the world for not (necessarily) supplying one.   If you'd like to make us to do a full audio pr...

The Play of the Weather by John Heywood A Full Cast Audio Adaptation The god Jupiter opens his doors for people to lobby for the weather that they want – his messenger Merry Report deals with the many people who come to take Jupiter up on his offer. Do you want it to be sunny, windy, rainy, cold or dull? Now's your chance to get the weather you want! The Cast: Jupiter was played by Heydn McCabe, M...

Discussing: John Heywood (part 2) Host Robert Crighton discusses with Greg Walker, Professor of English at the University of Edinburgh, the playwright John Heywood and his works. In this second part we discuss his later life and writing, as well as a little more on The Play of the Weather (coming soon to this podcast). You can listen to any of the plays discussed on our John Heywood playlist - and...

Exploring: John Baptist’s Preaching by John Bale UPDATED 14/12/19 - with Prologue and Epilogue From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of John Bale’s biblical play, John Baptists Preaching, for future use towards an audio/stage show. Part of a surviving trilogy of plays, though more once existed or were planned, it follows Bale’s God’s Promises – recorded variously on the podca...

Every Man In His Humour (Prologue) - What's Past Is Prologue A performance of the prologue to Every Man In His Humour (1598) by Ben Jonson - recorded to frustrate everyone who wants to hear a full production, and as a sitting accusation to the world for not (necessarily) supplying one.  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...