In this episode, we discuss the Schaubühne Berlin's recorded productions of Hamlet and Richard III, both directed by Thomas Ostermeier and starring Lars Eidinger. The productions are in German with English subtitles, and were recently streamed on the Schaubühne's website as part of their quarantine programming. The productions are modern dress and …

In this episode, we discuss the Groundling Theatre Company's current production of Julius Caesar; the genius of Moya O'Connell, André Sills, and Michelle Giroux; and the influence of Nicholas Hytner.This production is heavily inspired by Nicholas Hytner’s 2018 production (which we discussed here) of the play, featuring similar approaches to gender-…

In the latest attempt to adapt Shakespeare for modern audiences, Australian director David Michôd (The Rover) directs Timothée Chalamet in The King, a sort-of rewriting of Shakespeare's Henry IV Part 1 & 2 and Henry V. The film is set in the original time period, but Shakespeare's language has been gutted, while his structure is preserved, in favou…

By Discussing modern Shakespeare productions of stage and screen

In this episode, we discuss the 2019 Almeida Theatre's production of Richard II starring Simon Russell Beale, which was broadcast to cinemas worldwide via NTLive.Joe Hill-Gibbons directed this streamlined 1 hour and 40 minutes (no interval) production of Richard II starring Simon Russell Beale. For detailed show notes, visit: https://21stfolio.com/…

This is the second part of our discussion of the current 2018 Stratford Festival production of Coriolanus directed by Robert Lepage. In this episode, we discuss how the production approaches the relationships between each of the key characters: Volumnia and Coriolanus, Volumnia and Menenius, Menenius and the Tribunes, Menenius and Coriolanus, and C…

In this episode, we discuss the Stratford Festival's current modern dress production of Coriolanus directed by Robert Lepage. Québécois director and set designer Robert Lepage makes his Stratford debut this year with a modern dress production of Coriolanus. André Sills stars as Coriolanus and Stratford Grand Dame Lucy Peacock plays Volumnia. Known …

In this episode, we discuss the NTLive recording of the Bridge Theatre's 2018 production of Julius Caesar. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, the production stars Ben Whishaw as Brutus, David Morrissey as Mark Antony, Michelle Fairley as Caius Cassius, and Adjoa Andoh as Casca. The production was performed in the round, with a constantly shifting stage, …

In this episode, we finish our discussion of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2016 production of Hamlet directed by Simon Godwin and starring the 25-year-old Paapa Essiedu. This is part 2/2 of our discussion of the production, and it focuses on Essiedu's superlative performance and the curated information loss from recording the production.0:00–4:20…

In this episode, we discuss the Royal Shakespeare Company's first production of HAMLET (2016) to star a black actor, rising star Paapa Essiedu, as the melancholy Dane.0:00–1:45 Intro 1:45–19:30 The RSC’s first black Hamlet and setting the production in Ghana19:30–26:00 Costumes and colonialism26:00–35:30 How depressed is Hamlet in this production?3…

This is part two of our discussion of the Almeida Theatre's 2012 production of King Lear starring Jonathan Pryce and directed by Michael Attenborough. The production was recorded over two nights, and is now streaming on Digital Theatre where it is available for rent or to watch as a subscriber.00:00–7:35 The theatre space7:35–14:40 Filming the prod…

The 21st Folio podcast is back from hiatus! We discuss the Almeida Theatre's 2012 production of King Lear starring Jonathan Pryce and directed by Michael Attenborough. 00:00 – 1:28 introduction1:28 – 21:35 duty and nature in King Lear: the daughters, Kent, and Lear’s role as King. “You’ve made your daughters thy mother”. 21:35 – 28:31 The fool’s di…

In this episode, we talk to Argentine director Matias Piñeiro about his latest film, Hermia & Helena, which is more inspired by than loosely based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Hermia & Helena is Piñeiro’s English language debut and the fourth film in his Shakespeare cycle, which started with the short Rosalinda in 2011, based on As You Like It.Piñ…

In this episode, we continue our discussion from eps. 12–16 on the Laurence Olivier and Ian McKellen Richard III films. We discuss how the two films depict Richard's disability and whether Richard III is a good gateway drug for Shakespeare neophytes.For detailed show notes, visit http://21stfolio.com/2016/07/01/ep-17-richard-iii-film-pt-6-disabilit…

In this episode, we continue our discussion from episodes 12–15 on the Richard III films starring Laurence Olivier (1955) and Ian McKellen (1995). We discuss breaking the fourth wall, adapting soliloquies for the screen, entrances and exits, what the camera represents, how Richard is The Worst, and how Shrek stole from Olivier's Richard III.For det…

In this episode, we continue our discussion from episode 12–14 on the Laurence Olivier and Ian McKellen Richard III films. We discuss the way the films begin and end, how to catch an audience up on 6 hours of Henry VI in a few minutes, how we meet Richard, and how he meets his end.For detailed show notes, visit: http://21stfolio.com/2016/06/24/ep-1…

In this episode, we continue our discussion from episode 12 and episode 13 of the Laurence Olivier and Ian McKellen Richard III films. We discuss the interpretations of Buckingham and some minor characters.For detailed show notes, visit: http://21stfolio.com/2016/06/20/ep-14-richard-iii-film-pt-3-buckinghamHost: Alex Heeney (@bwestcineaste)Guests: …

In this episode, we continue our discussion from ep. 12 of the Laurence Olivier and Ian McKellen Richard III films. We discuss the interpretations of Lady Anne and changes to the text for the film adaptation. We also mention the Mark Rylance and Kevin Spacey Richard III productions.For detailed show notes, visit http://21stfolio.com/2016/06/18/ep-1…

In this episode, we compare two film versions of Richard III: Laurence Olivier's 1955 film and Richard Loncraine's 1995 film starring Ian McKellen, which was based on the Richard Eyre stage production. This is the first of a several-part discussion on these two films. Here, we discuss our first impressions of the two films and the differences betwe…

Picking up on our discussion of Twelfth Night from episodes 8–10, we ask, "What is the shelf life of a Shakespeare production?" Is there such thing as a timeless Shakespeare film? What makes a Shakespeare production a product of its time? Why is it important to document theatre productions? In what context do we view new productions of Shakespeare …

In this episode, we talk about the advantages of doing Twelfth Night on stage, through the lens of the 2012 Shakespeare's Globe production starring Mark Rylance (directed by Tim Carroll). We make some comparisons with Trevor Nunn's 1996 film to illuminate the advantages of the Globe's production.For detailed show notes, visit: http://21stfolio.com/…

Through the lens of Trevor Nunn's 1996 film and the 2012 Globe Production of TWELFTH NIGHT (which we discuss in ep. 8), we ask: What is the difference between doing Shakespeare on film vs stage? What do we look for in a good production of each? And what can you only do on stage or screen?For detailed show notes, visit http://21stfolio.com/2016/05/3…

We continue our discussion of the 2012 Globe Production (starring Mark Rylance)of Twelfth Night and Trevor Nunn's 1996 film adaptation of the play. In part two of our discussion, we focus on Malvolio, Maria, and melancholy in the two productions. This is the second of four parts. For detailed show notes visit http://21stfolio.com/2016/05/24/ep-8-tw…

In this episode, we discuss Trevor Nunn's 1996 film adaptation of Twelfth Night and the 2012 recording of the Globe Theatre production with an all-male case (starring Mark Rylance as Olivia, directed by Tim Carroll). For detailed show notes, visit: http://21stfolio.com/2016/05/24/ep-8-twelfth-night/00:00–1:13 Intro1:13–2:06 Guest intros2:06–8:36 In…

This is the second half of our discussion about Greg Doran's film adaptation of his RSC Hamlet production starring David Tennant. For detailed show notes, visit: http://www.seventh-row.com/2016/05/06/ep-7-hamlet-david-tennant/Follow us on Twitter @21stFolio. Find us online at http://seventh-row.comHost: Alex Heeney (@bwestcineaste)Guests: Noemi Ber…

In this episode, we discuss Greg Doran's film version of his RSC production of Hamlet starring David Tennant. The production is currently available to stream on PBS.org in the US.For detailed show notes, visit http://www.seventh-row.com/2016/05/06/ep-7-hamlet-david-tennant/00:00–1:58 Intro1:58–7:00 Initial thoughts on the production7:00–11:23 Claud…

In this very special bonus episode, we interview Maxine Peake about playing Hamlet in the Royal Manchester Exchange production of Hamlet (2014/2015), which was recorded on film. The film of the production will be screening across the U.S. this week (mostly on May 2). To find a theatre near you. visit: http://www.hamletmaxinepeake.comFor detailed sh…

This is the 2nd part of our discussion of the film version (dir. Margaret Williams) of the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre's HAMLET (dir. Sarah Frankcom) starring Peake as Hamlet.Host: Alex Heeney (@bwestcineaste)Guests: Laura Anne Harris, Caitlin Merriman (@CaitlinSnark), Lesley PetersonSound recordist and editor: Cam White (@JediDusk)00:00–0:50…

In the first part of episode 6, we'll be discussing the film version (dir. Margaret Williams) of the Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre's 2014/2015 HAMLET(dir. Sarah Frankcom) starring Maxine Peake as the Danish Prince. The production features several gender-swapped characters, including Polonia and Marcella, and features a stage completely surrou…

In the second part of our CORIOLANUS discussion, which pits Fiennes against Hiddleston, we discuss the importance of physicality in the productions, Corfidius, Coriolanus' death, how the productions were shot, and what's with all the fight scenes?Host: Alex Heeney (@bwestcineaste)Guests: Danny Bowes (@bybowes), Jeremy Mongeau (@JeremyMonjo), and Ma…

In this episode, we compare two productions of Coriolanus: Ralph Fiennes' 2011 film in which he stars and the 2014 Donmar Warehouse production (which was broadcast through National Theatre Live) directed by Josie Rourke and starring Tom Hiddleston. We discuss Fiennes' cold and terrifying interpretation compared with Hiddleston's more humane Coriola…

In our pilot episode of Sorting Shakespeare, we sort Shakespearean characters — from Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, and Henry V — into Hogwarts houses. Host: Alex Heeney (@bwestcineaste)Guests & Hogwarts experts: Danny Bowes (@bybowes) and Connor Joel (@keepthemuse)Follow the 21st Folio on Twitter @21stFolio.For detailed show notes visit: http://s…

In part two of our discussion about Baz Luhrmann's and Franco Zeffirelli's film, we compare the final death scenes, contemplate the water imagery in Luhrmann's film, and ask "What makes Shakespeare 'Shakespeare'"? That is, at what point is Romeo & Juliet no longer Shakespeare? We discuss ballet, opera, translations, modernized language, and try to …

In this episode, we compare two film adaptations of Romeo and Juliet: Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film and Baz Luhrmann's 1996 modern dress film. We discuss why we prefer Luhrmann's film even though they don't Speak The Speech I Pray You. Also in this episode: the greatest Mercurio ever on screen, the differences in the balcony scenes, how the filmmak…

In the second part of our discussion of Justin Kurzel's 2015 film adaptation of The Scottish Play, we consider whether it is in fact still "Shakespeare". We discuss killing Duncan, how The Lion King is actually a Macbeth story, the film as a Western, killing Banquo, the final showdown, the importance of speaking the speech, the historical context i…

In this episode, we discuss Justin Kurzel's 2015 film adaptation of The Scottish Play starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard. We consider the Christian imagery in the film, the decision to delete all references to witchcraft, the importance of the sound mix, and the problems with how the speech is spoken in the film. We also discuss other…

In the second part of our discussion about film versions of Henry V — Kenneth Branagh's 1989 film in which he stars and Thea Sharrock's 2012 TV movie starring Tom Hiddleston — we discuss the depiction of the French in the film, Harry's courtship with Princess Katherine, and more. For more detailed show notes: http://www.seventh-row.com/2016/03/25/e…

In this episode, we discuss two major film versions of Henry V: Kenneth Branagh's 1989 film in which he stars and Thea Sharrock's 2012 TV movie starring Tom Hiddleston, which was the final part of the Hollow Crown series. We discuss the differences in interpretations of the character of Henry V, the edits made to the text in each film, and how each…

This is the second part of our discussion about the live cinema broadcast of Barbican Theatre’s production of Hamlet (2015) directed by Lindsey Turner and starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Hamlet. We discuss Turner’s directorial choices, Cumberbatch’s performance, the cuts made to the text, the set and costumes, and what we gained from this interpre…

In this episode, we discuss the live cinema broadcast of Barbican Theatre’s production of Hamlet (2015) directed by Lindsey Turner and starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Hamlet. We discuss Turner’s directorial choices, Cumberbatch’s performance, the cuts made to the text, the set and costumes, and what we gained from this interpretation. We also disc…