The Hamlet Podcast

This bonus episode introduces David Garrick, one of the most famous actors of all time - a man who almost single-handedly put Stratford on the map and created an entire industry.

The Hamlet Podcast - a weekly exploration of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Act IV, Scene v - Laertes tries to demand answers, while Claudius and Gertrude try to calm him down. Written and presented by Conor Hanratty

Book Club 07 - Love's Labour's Lost by Conor Hanratty

When and why does Shakespeare use rhyme in Hamlet? And for what reason?

The Hamlet Podcast - a weekly exploration of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Act IV, Scene v - Claudius and Gertrude hear a noise within, and it becomes clear that someone has broken into the palace. Written and presented by Conor Hanratty

Book Club 06 - Romeo & Juliet by Conor Hanratty

Assonance, hyperbole, paradox, understatement, and puns.

This episode introduces maybe the most significant stage director of the last hundred years, Peter Brook. Born in 1925, his productions have been consistently influential and exciting, and, like many, he has had frequent encounters with Hamlet.

The Hamlet Podcast - a weekly exploration of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Act IV, Scene v - Claudius speaks to Gertrude about the numerous problems they are facing. OR: a corrupt leader speaks to his frantic wife, about a national crisis. A man has been needlessly murdered, and this leader is concerned that his shoddy handling of the whole situation will provoke an extreme reaction from the people. Writt...

Book Club 05 - The Comedy of Errors by Conor Hanratty

Good things come in threes, and so after Antithesis and Apposition, it only makes sense that this week's episode is all about Alliteration. (There's even a tongue-twister from Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan included for good measure!)

This bonus episode celebrates the Irish actor-manager Anew McMaster (1891-1962). A real-life player king, he brought Shakespeare to generations of Irish audiences, literally all over the country.

The Hamlet Podcast - a weekly exploration of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Act IV, Scene v - Ophelia finishes her song and leaves the room. Written and presented by Conor Hanratty

Book Club 04 - Titus Andronicus by Conor Hanratty

Again, don't be put off by the technical term! More juxtaposition this week - this time whole phrases that build up an idea. As well as an example from Hamlet, Richard III makes a guest appearance with one of the greatest soliloquies in all of Shakespeare.

The Hamlet Podcast - a weekly exploration of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Act IV, Scene v - Claudius enters, and we get a sense of what is on Ophelia's mind. Written and presented by Conor Hanratty

Book Club 03 - The Taming of the Shrew by Conor Hanratty

Don't be put off by the technical term! This episode unpacks one of the key building blocks of Shakespeare's language: antithesis, or the setting up of opposite ideas. For good measure, we discuss juxtaposition and paradox too. (Your scrabble score will skyrocket after this!)

The Hamlet Podcast - a weekly exploration of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Act IV, Scene v - Ophelia enters, and behaves in a most peculiar way. Written and presented by Conor Hanratty

Book Club 02 - Two Gentlemen of Verona by Conor Hanratty

About 25% of Hamlet isn't in verse at all - it's in prose. With this in mind, this episode explores some of the ways that Shakespeare uses prose instead of poetry, and how effective this can often be.

The Hamlet Podcast - a weekly exploration of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Act IV, Scene v - Horatio reappears this week, so we take a little time to discuss his character. As this new scene begins, Gertrude does not wish to speak with Ophelia, but is convinced that it's probably a wise idea to do so. Written and presented by Conor Hanratty

Book Club 01 - Richard II by Conor Hanratty

This time we continue our exploration of verse, looking at other ways Shakespeare shakes it up. Shared lines, blank vs rhymed verse, soliloquies and stories. Something for everyone!

Hello listeners! This is your invitation to participate in a read-along challenge, a kind of Book Club side-project for The Hamlet Podcast. Every week we'll read a different play, and hopefully we'll be able to say we read Shakespeare's complete works in 2020. Are you in? Week One: Richard II. Tune in on Saturday and we'll discuss it.