The Sonnet Sessions continue... You can reach me at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com William Shakespeare, Sonnet XVII Who will believe my verse in time to come, If it were filled with your most high deserts? Though yet heaven knows it is but as a tomb Which hides your life, and shows not half your parts. If I could write the beauty of your eyes, And in…

The Sonnet Sessions continue... (Don't know what was going on with the audio - or my voice - this week! ) Please get in touch any time: podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. William Shakespeare, Sonnet XVI But wherefore do not you a mightier way Make war upon this bloody tyrant, Time? And fortify your self in your decay With means more blessed than my barr…

The Sonnet Sessions continue.... Please get in touch any time: podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. William Shakespeare, Sonnet XVWhen I consider every thing that grows Holds in perfection but a little moment, That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows Whereon the stars in secret influence comment; When I perceive that men as plants increase, Cheere…

The Sonnet Sessions continue.... Please get in touch any time: podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. William Shakespeare, Sonnet XIV Not from the stars do I my judgement pluck; And yet methinks I have Astronomy, But not to tell of good or evil luck, Of plagues, of dearths, or seasons' quality; Nor can I fortune to brief minutes tell, Pointing to each his t…

The Sonnet Sessions continue.... Please get in touch any time: podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. William Shakespeare, Sonnet XIII O! that you were your self; but, love, you are No longer yours, than you your self here live: Against this coming end you should prepare, And your sweet semblance to some other give: So should that beauty which you hold in l…

The Sonnet Sessions continue (with apologies for the audio issues this week!) You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or download direct from Libsyn. William Shakespeare, Sonnet XII When I do count the clock that tells the time, And see the …

The Sonnet Sessions continue... You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or download direct from Libsyn. William Shakespeare, Sonnet XI As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow'st In one of thine, from that which thou departest; And that…

The Sonnet Sessions continue... You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or download direct from Libsyn. William Shakespeare, Sonnet X For shame deny that thou bear'st love to any, Who for thy self art so unprovident. Grant, if thou wilt, tho…

The Sonnet Sessions continue... You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or download direct from Libsyn. William Shakespeare, Sonnet IX Is it for fear to wet a widow's eye, That thou consum'st thy self in single life? Ah! if thou issueless sh…

The Sonnet Sessions continue... You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or download direct from Libsyn. William Shakespeare, Sonnet VIII Music to hear, why hear'st thou music sadly? Sweets with sweets war not, joy delights in joy: Why lov'st…

The Sonnet Sessions continue... You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or download direct from Libsyn. William Shakespeare, Sonnet VII Lo! in the orient when the gracious light Lifts up his burning head, each under eye Doth homage to his ne…

The Sonnet Sessions continue... You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or download direct from Libsyn. William Shakespeare, Sonnet VI Then let not winter's ragged hand deface, In thee thy summer, ere thou be distilled: Make sweet some vial;…

The Sonnet Sessions continue... You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or download direct from Libsyn. William Shakespeare, Sonnet V Those hours, that with gentle work did frame The lovely gaze where every eye doth dwell, Will play the tyra…

The Sonnet Sessions continue... You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or download direct from Libsyn. William Shakespeare, Sonnet IV Unthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spend Upon thy self thy beauty's legacy? Nature's bequest gives nothin…

The Sonnet Sessions continue... You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or download direct from Libsyn. William Shakespeare, Sonnet III Look in thy glass and tell the face thou viewest Now is the time that face should form another; Whose fre…

The Sonnet Sessions continue... You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or download direct from Libsyn. William Shakespeare, Sonnet II When forty winters shall besiege thy brow, And dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field, Thy youth's proud …

"From fairest creatures we desire increase...." Hello, friends! This is the first in my Sonnet Sessions. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. You can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or download direct from Libsyn. William Shakespeare, Sonnet I FROM fairest creatures we desire i…

Hello, friends! These are strange times, and I hope you are all well. This is a brief update to promise new content (you've heard that before!) and guarantee new-ish content over the next month. You can contact me at: podcastshakespeare@gmail.com or on Facebook and Twitter. Stay safe.By Sammy

“Are you a god? Would you create me new?” New episode! In episode #14, why won’t anyone let Antipholus in? We’re discussing Shakespeare’s lightest, tightest play: The Comedy of Errors. Wander through the town square of Ephesus at your leisure. But perhaps don't accept any gifts from strangers.... You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at…

“Defer no time, delays have dangerous ends.” — Alençon, Act III, scene ii In episode #13, a quick jaunt through the critical fortunes of Henry VI, Part 1, not an historically beloved play. From the “prequel” question to the plays role as a barometer of Britain’s feelings on nationalism, to just how many times a play can cut Talbot, Joan, or both! C…

"Awake, awake, English nobility!" In episode #12, we look at Shakespeare's early history play Henry VI, Part 1, which sets the tone for the Wars of the Roses. It's a rip-roaring, Hollywoodised tour of history. Come along to the Gates of Ruin, pick your favourite-coloured rose, and mercilessly mock the French. Why not? Everyone else here is doing it…

"Life upon the wicked stage Ain't ever what a girl supposes..." - from Show Boat New episode! In episode #11, I explore what life was like on the Elizabethan stage, from its naive origins to the messy, democratic, bawdy theatre world Shakespeare inherited. Join me as I learn about the original hellmouth, why the Puritans were so opposed to the filt…

"I'm a maid mad to marry And will take double-quick Any Tom, Dick or Harry, Any Tom, Harry or Dick!" - Lois Lane / Bianca, in Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate We're back with episode 10! Today I explore the critical and theatrical history of The Taming of the Shrew, from folk tales to musicals, from the Victorians to vaudeville, from an overacting Chris…

"From fairest creatures we desire increase...." Hello, friends! This is a bonus episode to give you a taste of my new Patreon campaign. Subscribers to the Patreon can contribute a few dollars to the running of the podcast in exchange for bonus content. I'll be recording Shakespeare's sonnets, with analysis and discussion, and posting them exclusive…

“He that is giddy thinks the world turns round” – The Widow We’re back with episode 8! Despite some mid-episode audio issues, we’re commencing my look at The Taming of the Shrew, circa 1592, one of the Bard’s rougher early works. Join me for a journey through the plot’s highs and lows, Shakespeare’s first googlewhack, and a heckuva lot of male priv…

"Truly, the tree yields bad fruit." Meet William McGonagall, the worst poet in the English language, and his exquisite Address to Shakespeare. You can listen to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or download direct from Libsyn. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. You can subscribe to our Spot…

“The fraud of men was ever so / Since summer first was leafy” — Balthasar’s song, Much Ado About Nothing In episode six, we look at that vexing question of whether or not Will Shakespeare was a complete and utter conman. We’ll follow those who dug up rivers, cracked codes, turned to grave-robbing, or occasionally just wrote really, really long book…

"Thou hadst small Latin and lesse Greek..." In episode five, we explore William Shakespeare's family background, his childhood in Stratford-upon-Avon, and follow him from school to wedlock to the open road. Along the way, we learn what to do in Stratford in the 1500s, how many Annes there were, and why you should never burn historical books just to…

"Love me / Not your idea of me! / Release me / From your fantasy." - Silvia in the 1971 rock musical 'Two Gentlemen of Verona' We explore the critical and popular history of 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona' from the Elizabethan age to the 1970s counter-culture, by way of light opera, Machiavelli, and the British Invasion! You can find me on Facebook, …

"He after honour hunts, I after love" - Proteus We begin our three-episode investigation of 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona', arguably the Bard's first play, circa 1589. Join me for a journey through the highs and lows of the plot, by way of Greek mythology, why the Ancients liked green honey, and our first casual bigotry alerts! You can find me on Fa…

"She sat like Patience on a monument, smiling at grief." -- Viola, 'Twelfth Night' Before we kick off the festivities, a quick trip through the backstory of Western theatre, and a look at some of the early playwrights of the Elizabethan era, including Kit Marlowe. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. Th…

"In states unborn and accents yet unknown." - Cassius, Julius Caesar A brief overview of what's to come on Podcast Shakespeare, and some recommendations for enjoyable listening. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at podcastshakespeare@gmail.com. The website for the podcast is https://podcastshakespeare.wordpress.com/. Links mentioned…