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Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast

Reduced Shakespeare Company
Shakespeare
Theatre
Chicago
A Christmas Carol
Theater
William Shakespeare
Comedy
The Reduced Shakespeare Company
Christmas
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
Merrimack Repertory Theatre
Goodman Theatre
The Comedy Of Hamlet, a Prequel
The Pitt
Billie Holiday
Stephen King
Reduced Shakespeare Company
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Improvisation
Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill

The world’s longest-running theatre podcast, which Broadway World calls “one of the Top 10 Podcasts for Theatre Fans!” HEAR HERE!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes300Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsArtsComedy

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Artwork for Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast

Latest Episodes

Chicago's City Lit Theater presents the world premiere of Kingsley Day's and James Grossman's Scaramouche: The Swashbuckling Musical! and City Lit's executive artistic director Brian Pastor and the show's director Beth Wolf discuss how this ambitious... more

Improv: The Play at Chicago’s IO Theatre pairs an actor and an improviser performing a two-person scripted scene where only the actor knows their lines, followed by a team of improvisers who perform an extended improvisational scene inspired by the s... more

Helen Joo Lee and Lucky Stiff are two of the nine solo performers guiding audiences through the Goodman Theatre production of David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar's Theatre of the Mind, a uniquely interactive and immersive theatrical experience now running i... more

At Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Pericles boldly goes where no Pericles has gone before. Artistic Director Brian Isaac Phillips discusses how his space-age setting for Shakespeare's underrated Romance is weirdly more relatable than the maritime tra... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Cory Hardin
producer and improviser, discussed the origins of Improv The Play
IO Theatre / Reduced Shakespeare Company
Episode: Improv: The Play
Helen Joo Lee
Actor in Theatre of the Mind at Goodman Theatre
Theatre of the Mind / Reduced Shakespeare Company
Episode: David Byrne’s ‘Mind’
Lucky Stiff
Actor in Theatre of the Mind at Goodman Theatre
Theatre of the Mind / Reduced Shakespeare Company
Episode: David Byrne’s ‘Mind’
Caroline Bicks
Professor of Literature
University of Maine
Episode: Year Of Fear
Jacques Lamarre
Playwright debuting Circus Fire at Theaterworks in Hartford
Theaterworks (Hartford)
Episode: Hartford’s Circus Fire
Ben Crystal
Author of Shakespeare on Toast; co-author of The Invaluable Shakespeare's Words
Shakespeare on Toast
Episode: Shakespeare On Toast
Rachel Dratch
Actress and guest featured in intro promo
Noted theatre/TV performer
Episode: RSC Podcast Whisperer
DeeDee Batteast
Director, actor, coach; Shakespearean scholar
Production team (RSC circle)
Episode: Ides of March Madness 2026 (Part 2)
William Sutton
Actor, educator, creator of iloveshakespeare.com
iloveshakespeare.com
Episode: Memorizing Shakespeare’s Sonnets

Host

Austin Tichenor
Co-artistic director of the Reduced Shakespeare Company; frequent host with a long-running presence on the show.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 166 ratings
  • To Be!

    There IS no question! This podcast is a weekly dose of insight and education about the Bard and all things theatre. Austin and guests manage to amuse, entertain, and educate every single week. Makes me look forward to Mondays !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    YakimaVJ
    United States6 years ago
  • Enjoyable show

    I loved "Slings & Arrows" and enjoyed "Will," so I listened with interest to your take on these productions. Your relative access provided a cool perspective on them which I appreciated. I've enjoyed the reductions I've encountered in the past, and that energy translates perfectly to this truly enjoyable podcast. You should know this review used to be 20 stars and several paragraphs long; that's how inspiring I've found the RSC's approach to be. Yay, you guys!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    stockyjoe
    United States8 years ago
  • Long-time listener, first-time reviewer

    I've been listening since Episode 1, a few years after having seen Austin perform All the Great Books at the Kennedy Center. The podcast has never failed to be both entertaining and informative, whether it's a slice of life from the world of live theater, memories of what has inspired their performances, or the wide range of interviews. Austin's dedication to putting out a quality production week after week for so many years is a testament to his devotion to the fans of the Reduced Shakespeare C... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ErwinMFromFL
    United States8 years ago
  • For all theater nerds

    If you are a fan of theater, subscribe now. Yes, there are many light-hearted discussions with a Shakespearean theme, but the essence of this podcast is the theater. The interviews with playwrites, actors, directors, etc. are entertaining and informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    johnthad
    United States8 years ago
  • Play On

    I've listened to the RSC podcast faithfully for years. I've enjoyed each and every one they produced. It's one of the few podcasts I keep rather than delete after playing it.

    I love Austin's choice of topics in general, and I especially love the podcasts related to Shakespeare. Austin interviews interesting people who do interesting things.

    The members of the RSC troupe are awesome. I saw them a few times at the Kennedy Center in DC, and I always had a great time. Once I was called on stage du... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PXM1968
    United States8 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show's mix of humor and education, noting insider access and engaging guests.
Audiences highlight consistent quality and the host's approachable, engaging style.
Many say it stays entertaining while delivering backstage and production insights for theatre fans.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Year Of Fear
Q: What prompted you to pursue this archive-centric book while taking a sabbatical?
Bicks describes the sabbatical as a catalyst for a longer research project, and she explains how the archive offered a rare chance to compare King's manuscripts with Shakespearean themes across several iconic works.
Year Of Fear
Q: And my first question for you, Professor Bicks, is where the hell were you when I was writing my Folger article?
Bicks explains the coincidence of her own scholarly path and her new book, noting how her research into Stephen King's archives intersects with Shakespearean studies and how access to King's manuscripts shaped the project.
Science Fiction Pericles
Q: Was it hard playing this sci-fi thing so straight?
Surprisingly not; we aimed to play it straight and only raise the volume on the comedy if needed, using the commitment of the actors as the anchor for the balance between drama and humor.
Science Fiction Pericles
Q: Is it fair to say that your new production of Pericles is boldly going where no Pericles has gone before?
Yes, the production leans into space-age design while staying rooted in Shakespeare's text, using world-building and a serious treatment to make the fantastical elements feel earned rather than gimmicky.
Reduced Shakespeare Book
Q: What was it like adding the Comedy of Hamlet to your book?
It felt appropriate because it covers a period in our history and the story didn't feel complete without it.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast

What is Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A witty, theater-minded show centered on Shakespeare, theatre history, and behind-the-scenes storytelling from a long-running company. Episodes frequently feature discussions with actors, scholars, casting directors, and touring actors, plus deep dives into adaptations, touring life, and the business of producing live theatre. Listeners get a mix of insider anecdotes, thoughtful takes on dramaturgy, and humorous takes on performance, all wrapped in a conversational, light-hearted style that still respects educational insights. Notable is the host's knack for drawing expert guests and sharing practical touring and production knowledge alongside love for the Bard, making it appealing to theatre professionals, students, and curious fans alike.... more

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How many listeners does Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast:

1. Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited
2. Real Time with Bill Maher
3. The Al Franken Podcast
4. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
5. 99% Invisible

How many episodes of Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast are there?

Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast launched 19 years ago and published 300 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 Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast?

Recent guests on Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast include:

1. Cory Hardin
2. Helen Joo Lee
3. Lucky Stiff
4. Caroline Bicks
5. Jacques Lamarre
6. Ben Crystal
7. Rachel Dratch
8. DeeDee Batteast

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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