The Shakespeare & Beyond blog features a wide range of Shakespeare-related topics: the early modern period in which he lived, the ways his plays have been interpreted and staged over the past four centuries, the enduring power of his characters and language, and more.
Shakespeare & Beyond
Shakespeare & Beyond also explores the topics that shape our experience of Shakespeare today: trends in performance, the latest discoveries and scholarship, news stories, pop culture, interesting books, new movies, the rich context of theater and literary history, and more. As the word “beyond” suggests, from time to time Shakespeare & Beyond also covers topics that are not directly linked to Shakespeare.
Questions or comments? You can reach us at shakespeareandbeyond@folger.edu.
Cruel to be kind: Irreverently celebrating Shakespeare's birthday
Austin Tichenor of the Reduced Shakespeare Company writes about how “impertinent” riffs on Shakespeare’s work do much to celebrate his legacy.
What's onstage at Shakespeare theaters in April
Every month, we share a snapshot of Shakespeare in performance around America. What plays are onstage this month? We check in with our theater partners
Excerpt: 'Macbeth' by Jo Nesbø
Read an excerpt from ‘Macbeth’, Norwegian detective crime novelist Jo Nesbø’s retelling of Shakespeare’s play, from the Hogarth Shakespeare series.
Excerpt: 'Julius Caesar and Me: Exploring Shakespeare’s African Play'
Read an excerpt from actor Paterson Joseph’s book about playing the role of Brutus in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s acclaimed 2012 production of Julius Caesar.
Excerpt: 'Year of the Mad King' by Antony Sher
What’s it like to play the role of Lear onstage? In this excerpt from Year of the Mad King: The Lear Diaries, actor Antony Sher gives us a window into the rehearsal process for the Royal Shakespeare Company production of King…
‘The Winter’s Tale’ and the problem of the Bohemia seacoast
A key plot point of Shakespeare’s ‘The Winter’s Tale’ relies on the country of Bohemia having a seacoast, which poses a geographical dilemma.
Globe-al dominance: The rise in reconstructed Globe theatres
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is the most recognizable early modern playhouse, and the last few years have seen multiple reconstructions.
The production's the thing: Thoughts on Shakespeare's Romances
Austin Tichenor looks at different stage productions of “The Winter’s Tale” and “Pericles” in order to understand what makes Shakespeare’s Romances “work.”
'The Blazing World' by Margaret Cavendish: The first science fiction novel written by a woman
“The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing World” by Margaret Cavendish has been called the first science-fiction novel written by a woman. Learn more about this book, which is part of the Folger collection.
What's onstage at Shakespeare theaters in March
Every month, we share a snapshot of Shakespeare in performance around America. What plays are onstage this month? We check in with our theater partners.
Imagining Shakespeare: What's your favorite "statue scene" from "The Winter's Tale?"
We asked our followers on social media to share their favorite stagings of the “statue scene” from “The Winter’s Tale” with the hashtag #ImaginingShakespeare.
Imagining Shakespeare: What happens in the statue scene from "The Winter’s Tale?”
Spoiler alert: something magical happens in the last scene of Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale.” We dug into the Folger collection to explore.