Beyond Shakespeare

150: Spoilers: The Tragedy of Mariam (Act 3)

10 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to this spoiler episode for The Tragedy of Mariam, the Fair Queen of Jewry by Elizabeth Cary - and it's very spoilery! The plot pivots in Act ...

149: The Dutch Courtesan by John Marston (Prologue)

02 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What's Past is Prologue: The Dutch Courtesan by John Marston The Dutch Courtesan is a fascinating play, and one we'd like to do one day. Here's just t...

148: Exploring: N-Town, Play 3 (Cain and Abel)

25 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: The N-Town Play, a slow burn look at a medieval Mystery (sort of) cycle. The N-Town Play comes to us as a single manuscript, but it's a com...

147: Exploring: Lucidus and Dubius (Fragments)

18 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

From the Winchester Dialogues this is a read through and discussion of Lucidus and Dubius, written sometime in the midst of the 15th century. There's ...

146: Spoilers: The Tragedy of Mariam (Act 2)

11 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: The Tragedy of Mariam by Elizabeth Cary (Act 2) Welcome to this spoiler episode for The Tragedy of Mariam, the Fair Queen of Jewry by Elizab...

145: Exploring: The Disobedient Child

05 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: The Disobedient Child by Thomas Ingleand This exploring episode was recorded virtually online, as the lockdown bites around the world - oth...

144: Exploring: The Norwich Grocers' Play

29 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: The Norwich Grocers' Play - A and B text. We're taking a break from N-Town to look at another East Anglian play text - or texts - two diffe...

143: Exploring: The Tragedy of Antony (Act 5)

23 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: The Tragedy of Antony (Act 5) From our pre-production Exploring sessions, where we read through the text of this play for future use toward...

142: Sophonisba by John Marston (Epilogue)

19 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sophonisba by John Marston (Epilogue) - Epic Epilogues Performances of the epilogue to Sophonisba by John Marston - the prologue is also available as ...

141: Spoilers: The Tragedy of Mariam (Act 1)

16 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: The Tragedy of Mariam by Elizabeth Cary (Act 1) Welcome to this spoiler episode for The Tragedy of Mariam, the Fair Queen of Jewry by Elizab...

140: Notes for a Plague Year

14 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Due to the arrival of plague, we're having to adjust our plans for the next couple of years. Robert Crighton outlines our plans for keeping going duri...

139: A Letter to the Lord Mayor (1593)

13 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A Letter from the Privy Council to the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen of the City of London from 28th January 1593 - ordering the closing of public enter...

138: Exploring: The Tragedy of Antony (Act 4)

06 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: The Tragedy of Antony (Act 4) From our pre-production Exploring sessions, where we read through the text of this play for future use toward...

137: Exploring: N-Town, Plays 1 and 2 (Again!)

27 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: The N-Town Play, a slow burn look at a medieval Mystery (sort of) cycle. The N-Town Play comes to us as a single manuscript, but it's a com...

136: Sophonisba by John Marston (Prologue)

19 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What's Past is Prologue: Sophonisba by John Marston - a quick look at the prologue, which really is a prologue. Sophonisba opens with business. Busine...

135: The Hunting of Cupid by George Peele (Fragments)

14 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Hunting of Cupid by George Peele (Fragments) This is not a reconstruction of this lost play, because most of the fragments are notebook scratching...

134: Exploring: The Tragedy of Antony (Act 3)

10 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: The Tragedy of Antony (Act 3) From our pre-production Exploring sessions, where we read through the text of this play for future use toward...

133: Exploring: Somebody and Others (Fragment)

06 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: Somebody and Others (Fragment) This play is called variously (because there isn't a proper title) Somebody and Others, or The Spoiling of ...

132: Spoilers: The Tragedy of Mariam (Introduction/Argument)

03 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: The Tragedy of Mariam by Elizabeth Cary (Introduction and Argument) Welcome to this first spoiler episode to The Tragedy of Mariam, the Fair...

131: Exploring: N-Town, Play 2 (Fall of Adam and Eve)

30 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: The N-Town Play, a slow burn look at a medieval Mystery (sort of) cycle. The N-Town Play comes to us as a single manuscript, but it's a com...

130: Exploring: The Cruel Debtor (Fragment)

27 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: The Cruel Debtor (Fragment) - written by one of the Wagers, William or Lewis. This play survives in a couple of fragments and we may not ha...

129: A Looking Glass for London and England (Epilogue)

23 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A Looking Glass for London and England (Epilogue) - Epic Epilogues Performances of the epilogue to A Looking Glass for London and England by Robert Gr...

128: Exploring: The Tragedy of Antony (Act 2)

20 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: The Tragedy of Antony (Act 2) From our pre-production Exploring sessions, where we read through the text of this play for future use toward...

127: Processus Satanae LIVE (Fragment)

16 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fragments: Processus Satanae - Or, Satan Vs God (Case Number 666) It's cue script time again - the text known as Processus Satanae is mostly the dialo...

126: Exploring: N-Town, Play 1 (Fall of Lucifer)

13 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: The N-Town Play, a slow burn look at a medieval Mystery (sort of) cycle. The N-Town Play comes to us as a single manuscript, but it's a com...

125: Tamburlaine the Great, Part 2 (Prologue)

10 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What's Past is Prologue: Tamburlaine the Great, Part 2 - a quick look at the prologue to the slightly murdery play by Christopher Marlowe. Tamburlain...

124: Exploring: The Tragedy of Antony (Act 1 into 2)

07 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: The Tragedy of Antony (Act 1 into 2) From our pre-production Exploring sessions, where we read through the text of this play for future use...

123: Discussing: Jack Drum's Entertainment by John Marston

04 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Discussing Jack Drum's Entertainment by John Marston - with Sam Plumb, director of a production of the play with the Young Actors Company in 2016. Hos...

122: New Year's Resolution for 2020

31 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Happy New Year, if it is New Year yet, it probably is somewhere... anyway. Here's a little (fairly rambly) catch up from host Robert Crighton about th...

121: The Stage Players Complaint (1641)

16 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Stage-Players Complaint by Anonymous (printed 1641) This is a performance of a dialogue between two players, Cane of the Fortune and Reed of the F...

120: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Full Cast Audio Adaptation)

09 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Life and Death of Jack Straw by the Unknown - A Full Cast Audio Adaptation The Peasants Revolt has begun! Jack Straw and his fellow rebels head t...

119: Gammer Gurton's Needle by Mr. S (Full Cast Audio Adaptation)

26 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A Full Cast Audio Adaptation of Gammer Gurton's Needle by Mr S.  A Comedy in which Gammer Gurton loses her needle, which opens up the household to mi...

118: Exploring Chester Play 24 (Judgement)

23 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 24 (Judgement) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future use towa...

117: Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 4)

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 4) Jack Straw is not a long play, but that won't stop us going into ridiculous amounts of detail about...

116: Exploring Chester Play 23

19 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 23 (Antichrist) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future use tow...

115: Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 3, Scene 3)

14 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 3, Scene 3) Note: The precise scene division of Act Three is debatable, this episode goes from the gen...

114: Exploring Chester Play 22

12 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 22 (Prophets of the Antichrist) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play fo...

113: Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 3, Scene 2)

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 3, Scene 2) Note: The precise scene division of Act Three is debatable, this episode goes from the gen...

112: Exploring: Mundus et Infans

03 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mundus et Infans or, The World and the Child by anonymous (dated somewhere before 1522). Mundus et Infans is a morality play in miniature, like other ...

111: Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 3, Scene 1)

28 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 3, Scene 1) Note: The precise scene division of Act Three is debatable, this episode goes up to the ge...

110: Exploring Chester Play 21

21 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 21 (Pentecost) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future use towa...

109: Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 2, Scenes 2 to 5)

15 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 2, Scenes 2 to 5) Jack Straw is not a long play, but that won't stop us going into ridiculous amounts ...

108: Exploring: Nice Wanton

08 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Nice Wanton, by anonymous (dated somewhere between 1547 - 1553) - with the version that we have having probably been revised around 1560. Nice Want...

107: Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 2, Scene 1)

03 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 2, Scene 1) GOOSE ALERT - GOOSE ALERT Jack Straw is not a long play, but that won't stop us going into...

106: Exploring Chester Play 20

01 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 20 (The Ascension) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future u...

105: Discussing: T is for Tarlton (Early Modern Celebrity)

28 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Discussing: T is for Tarlton - Early Modern Celebrity with Sophie Shorland. This episode is a discussion with Sophie Shorland about Early Modern Cele...

104: Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 1, Scene 4)

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 1, Scene 4) Jack Straw is not a long play, but that won't stop us going into ridiculous amounts of det...

103: Exploring: Love Feigned and Unfeigned (Fragment)

23 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: Love Feigned and Unfeigned (A Fragmentary play c.1540 and 1560) Another fragment - and it's a not so short fragment, a couple hundred lines...

102: Discussing: Volpone by Ben Jonson

20 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Discussing: Volpone by Ben Jonson Host Robert Crighton discusses with Charlie Day of Fresh Life Theatre Company their production of Ben Jonson's play ...

101: Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 1, Scene 3)

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 1, Scene 3) Jack Straw is not a long play, but that won't stop us going into ridiculous amounts of det...

100: Exploring Chester Play 19

16 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 19 (Lucas and Cleophas & Doubting Thomas) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the tex...

99: Antonio and Mellida (Epilogue)

13 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Antonio and Mellida by John Marston (Epilogue) - Epic Epilogues Performances of the epilogue to Antonio and Mellida by John Marston - a piece of actio...

98: Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 1, Scene 2)

11 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 1, Scene 2) Jack Straw is not a long play, but that won't stop us going into ridiculous amounts of det...

97: Exploring John the Evangelist

09 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: John the Evangelist - 1520-57 (printed c.1550) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future use towa...

96: God's Promises - Omnibus Plain Text Version

06 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

God's Promises by John Bale - an omnibus edition of our plain text version. No frills, just the text, all in one episode.  This version was started o...

95: Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 1, Scene 1)

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Act 1, Scene 1) Jack Straw is not a long play, but that won't stop us going into ridiculous amounts of det...

94: Exploring Chester Play 18

02 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 18 (The Resurrection) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for futur...

93: Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (Act 5)

11 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (Act 5) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Gammer Gurton's Needle by Mr S. We present a run down of ...

92: Exploring Chester Play 17

07 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 17 (The Harrowing of Hell) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for ...

91: The Malcontent (Epilogue)

04 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Malcontent by John Marston (Epilogue) - Epic Epilogues Performances of the epilogue to The Malcontent by John Marston - an act of fascinating arse...

90: Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (Act 4)

02 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (Act 4) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Gammer Gurton's Needle by Mr S. We present a run down of ...

89: Exploring Chester Play 16a

30 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 16a (The Crucifixion) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for futur...

88: The Cambridge Prologue (Fragment)

27 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Cambridge Prologue (Fragment) An initial look at the Cambridge Prologue, a 13th Century survival of a lost play, which comes in two flavours - Fre...

87: Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (Act 3)

24 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (Act 3) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Gammer Gurton's Needle by Mr S. We present a run down of ...

86: Exploring The Prodigal Son (Fragment)

22 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring: The Prodigal Son (Pater, Filius et Uxor) - A Fragment (printed c.1530) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this ...

85: Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (Act 2)

13 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (Act 2) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Gammer Gurton's Needle by Mr S. We present a run down of ...

84: Exploring Chester Play 16

10 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 16 (The Trial) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future use t...

83: Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (Act 1)

06 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (Act 1) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Gammer Gurton's Needle by Mr S. We present a run down of ...

82: The Poetaster by Ben Jonson (Prologue)

03 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Poetaster by Ben Jonson (Prologue) - What's Past Is Prologue A performance of the pre-show material to The Poetaster by Ben Jonson. It's a fun sta...

81: Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (Prologue)

26 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: Gammer Gurton's Needle (The Prologue) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Gammer Gurton's Needle by Mr S. We present a run d...

80: Discussing the York Corpus Christi Play

24 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Discussing: The York Corpus Christi Play Host Robert Crighton discusses with Dr Christina M. Fitzgerald the York Corpus Christi Play and her Broadview...

79: Exploring Chester Play 15

20 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 15 From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future use towards an au...

78: The Family of Love (Prologue)

18 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Family of Love by Somebody (Prologue) - What's Past Is Prologue A performance of the prologue to The Family of Love by various possible contenders...

77: Jack Juggler - Full Cast Adaptation

11 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A Full Cast Audio Adaptation of Jack Juggler Jack Juggler decides to get his revenge on one Jenkin Careaway, a servant to Master Bongrace. He does th...

76: Exploring Chester Play 14

08 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 14 From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future use towards an au...

75: Spoilers: Jack Juggler 6 (Epilogue)

06 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: Jack Juggler 6 (The Epilogue) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Jack Juggler by Someone. We present a run down of the ac...

74: The Nice Valour (Prologue)

04 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Nice Valour by Various People (Prologue) - What's Past Is Prologue A performance of the prologue to The Nice Valour or, The Passionate Madman by v...

73: Exploring Chester Play 13

02 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 13 From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future use towards an au...

72: Spoilers: Jack Juggler 5 (Close of Play)

29 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: Jack Juggler 5 (Close of Play, or Careaway's Excuses!) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Jack Juggler by Someone. We pre...

71: Two Angry Women of Abington (Prologue)

27 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Two Angry Women of Abington by Henry Porter (Prologue) - What's Past Is Prologue A performance of the prologue to Two Angry Women of Abington by Henry...

70: Spoilers: Jack Juggler 4 (The Big Scene)

21 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: Jack Juggler 4 (The Big Scene, or I'm Jenkin Careaway!) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Jack Juggler by Someone. We pres...

69: Cynthia's Revels (Prologue)

18 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

68: Exploring Chester Play 12

16 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play 12 The Bowchers Play, The Temptation & the Woman Taken in Adultery From our Exploring workshop, w...

67: Spoilers: Jack Juggler 3 (Careaway)

14 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

66: The Jew of Malta (Cockpit Prologue)

10 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

65: Spoilers: Jack Juggler 2 (Jack's Speech)

08 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 actio...

64: Discussing Beware the Cat

05 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Discussing: Beware the Cat Host Robert Crighton discusses with Dr Rachel Stenner of the University of Sussex, Beware the Cat by William Baldwin - a b...

63: Exploring Chester Play 11

03 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the Chester Mystery Cycle - Play Eleven From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this play for future use towards a...

62: Spoilers: Jack Juggler 1 (Prologue)

01 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers: Jack Juggler (Prologue) Welcome to this spoilery introduction to the play Jack Juggler by Someone. We present a run down of the action, wi...

61: The Jew of Malta (Court Prologue)

29 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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...

60: Spring Vote 2019

23 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 Ap...

59: Interludium de Clerico et Puella (Fragment)

05 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Interludium de Clerico et Puella or The Student and the Girl (Fragments) This fragmentary play comes from around 1300, and survives as two scenes -...

58: Discussing John Bale's Biblical Plays

20 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Discussing: John Bale’s Biblical Plays Host Robert Crighton discusses with Dr Jeff S. Dailey the Biblical plays of John Bale - God's Promises, Joh...

57: Exploring Albion Knight - A Fragment

17 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring Albion Knight - a fragment (c.1537-1566) From our Exploring workshop, where we read through the text of this fragmentary play for future u...

55: God's Promises by John Bale - Act 5

12 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

54: The Three Lords and Three Ladies of London (Prologue)

10 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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...

53: Mortimer, His Fall by Ben Jonson

07 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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...

52: Exploring Good Order, or Old Christmas

05 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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...

51: God's Promises by John Bale - Act 3

27 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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. Thi...

50: Three Ladies of London (Prologue)

26 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 Wilso...