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Artwork for Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited

Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited

Folger Shakespeare Library
Shakespeare
Hamlet
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet
King Lear
Folger Shakespeare Library
Othello
Julius Caesar
Theatre
Titus Andronicus
London
Macbeth
Folger Theatre
Mary, Queen Of Scots
Disgust
Malcolm X
Henry VIII
Tragedy
Antony and Cleopatra
Will Somer

Home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare materials. Advancing knowledge and the arts. Discover it all at www.folger.edu. Shakespeare turns up in the most interesting places—not just literature and the stage, but science and social history as well. Our "Shakespeare Unlimited" podcast explores the fascinating and varied connections between Shakespeare, his works, and the world around us... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes311Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Arts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited

Latest Episodes

Who can explain the alchemical transformation that is rehearsal? Actors begin with words on a page and emerge with a fully formed theater production. In her documentary, Acting, director Sophie Fiennes captures the magic of actors connecting with the... more

YouTube

Long before his iconic portrayal of Logan Roy in Succession, Brian Cox trod the boards as a Shakespearean actor. For over 50 years, Cox has made his mark on both stage and screen, collecting Olivier Awards, a Primetime Emmy, a Golden Globe, and count... more

YouTube

How do you write a “complete” life of Shakespeare when very little complete information about his life exists? Four centuries after Shakespeare’s death, the legends that have grown up around him have taken on a cultural significance of their own. As ... more

YouTube

In 1597, the first published edition of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet rolled off the printing press. Only a year later, the Spanish colony of Santa Fe was established. While you might not immediately think Shakespeare had much to do with the Latinx ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Sophie Fiennes
Documentary filmmaker whose work includes films about dance, visual art, and film history
Episode: Acting, with Sophie Fiennes and Cheek by Jowl
Declan Donnellan
Cheek by Jowl co-founder and co-artistic director who has directed more than 45 productions with the company
Cheek by Jowl
Episode: Acting, with Sophie Fiennes and Cheek by Jowl
Nick Ormerod
Cheek by Jowl co-founder and co-artistic director who has designed more than 45 productions with the company
Cheek by Jowl
Episode: Acting, with Sophie Fiennes and Cheek by Jowl
Brian Cox
Actor known for stage and screen roles including Titus Andronicus, Logan Roy in Succession
Various theatre companies and screen projects
Episode: Brian Cox and Nicole Ansari-Cox
Nicole Ansari-Cox
Actress with background in German television/film and theatre
Theatre and screen
Episode: Brian Cox and Nicole Ansari-Cox
Paul Menzer
Executive director and professor of Shakespeare and Performance, Mary Baldwin University; inaugural Shakespeare Chair at the Folger
Folger Shakespeare Library / Mary Baldwin University
Episode: The Complete Life of William Shakespeare, with Paul Menzer
Kate Gillen
Editor of the Borderlands anthology
Texas A&M University San Antonio
Episode: The Bard in the Borderlands
Katie Vomero Santos
Editor of the Borderlands anthology
Trinity University / Texas A&M University San Antonio
Episode: The Bard in the Borderlands
Andrew Siañez-De La O
Playwright; author of Rough Magic
Texas
Episode: The Bard in the Borderlands

Hosts

Farah Karim Cooper
Host and Folger director; Folger Shakespeare Library
Barbara Bogave
Interviewer and host

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Excellent Podcast!

    Some podcasts stand out and this is one of them. The interviews are not only interesting but thorough; no ridiculous conspiracy theories here! It has inspired me to go back to reading Shakespeare after a long hiatus.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RAKGB
    United States13 days ago
  • A fan

    So many good shows. They brought me to Shakespeare like no other medium. Plus, I’ve been motivated to visit the Folger in DC. Luv the cafe!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    aeim2
    United States6 months ago
  • Best podcast!

    Have so loved this journey. A passionate honest exploration of Shakespeare, his works, and shared times. So many podcasts are commercially driven with pay walls etc. This podcast opens up this world for everyone! Thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tree House Life
    United States6 months ago
  • Excellent

    Fabulous podcast..well researched and delivered. Bravo!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JCLSWAN12
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Yes!

    Shakespeare in Africa, Shakespeare in China, Shakespeare in prisons, sonnets based on pop songs — this amazing podcast covers a wide range and is always interesting, always accessible. Fascinating guests, great questions, rewarding discussions — I’m so glad I stumbled upon it. I’m hooked!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shakespeare-to-Sondheim
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Consistently credible, with deep dives into Shakespeare and related culture.
High production quality and strong interviewing that elevates scholarly content for broad audiences.
Thoughtful, rigorous, and accessible discussions that connect archives, performance, and scholarship.
A wide range of guests and topics keeps episodes fresh and deeply informative.
Occasional critique about host style from some listeners, but overall positive reception.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#40
Hong Kong/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#128
Chile/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#215
Netherlands/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#239
South Africa/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Acting, with Sophie Fiennes and Cheek by Jowl
Q: How do you understand Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's motivation to kill Duncan?
Donnellan suggests they do not commit the murder because they want to, but because they dread not doing it. He argues that motives are often supplied afterward and that the play is about doing something one does not want to do.
Acting, with Sophie Fiennes and Cheek by Jowl
Q: Why don't you explain the exercise that you have the actors do at the beginning of the rehearsal where they explore space and they just walk around, and then they do a bit of monologue, and then they pick up their chairs and they move them to a different place?
Declan Donnellan says the exercise challenges the everyday illusion that people can separate themselves from their surroundings. He wants actors to stop disconnecting from the space their bodies occupy.
Shakespeare and the Law, with Len Niehoff
Q: How did your interest in Shakespeare and the law begin?
Niehoff describes noticing his students' energy waning in a standard Civil Procedure class and using Shakespeare as a way to teach legal concepts, eventually turning this into a broader approach to reading Shakespeare through the lens of the law.
Shakespeare's Margaret, with Charles O'Malley and Scott W. Stern
Q: Why don't we start with the real Margaret of Anjou? What were her origins and what was her childhood like?
She was a French princess, born in the early 1400s, promised in marriage to Henry VI of England, and her life in exile and political maneuvering became a rich source for Shakespeare and later dramatists. Her early alliances and the dowry of peace set the stage for a dramatic life that Shakespeare expanded in his plays.
The Six Loves of James I, with Gareth Russell
Q: Well Gareth, let's start with some Shakespeare-centric questions, if we could. Was James a true Shakespeare fan after he assumed the throne?
Gareth notes that James wasn't a devoted theatre-goer, but emphasizes that his patronage and political calculus made Shakespeare essential to royal propaganda and public mood, more a strategic ally than a personal theatre lover.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners can expect in-depth conversations at the intersection of Shakespeare, literature, history, and performance. Episodes frequently explore how Shakespeare's works illuminate modern topics—from archives and biographical dramas to modern adaptations, gender and race in classical theatre, and the translator's craft—often featuring scholars, actors, historians, and dramaturgs who bring rich historical context and behind-the-scenes storytelling to the discussion. The show is notable for its wide range of guests, from university professors and literary historians to theatre practitioners, who illuminate both the Bard's enduring relevance and the practicalities of staging and interpreting his work. The format tends to balance rigorous analy... more

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1. The History of Literature
2. In Our Time
3. HistoryExtra podcast
4. The LRB Podcast
5. Close Readings

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this podcast launched 11 years ago and published 311 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Sophie Fiennes
2. Declan Donnellan
3. Nick Ormerod
4. Brian Cox
5. Nicole Ansari-Cox
6. Paul Menzer
7. Kate Gillen
8. Katie Vomero Santos

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