Rephonic
Artwork for The History Of European Theatre

The History Of European Theatre

Philip Rowe
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
Ben Jonson
Hamlet
Theatre
Titus Andronicus
Elizabethan Theatre
Theatre History
Anne Hathaway
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Love's Labour's Lost
Richard III
The Comedy Of Errors
Henry VI
Julius Caesar
Ophelia
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Elizabethan Society
Twelfth Night
Much Ado About Nothing

A podcast tracing the development of theatre from ancient Greece to the present day through the places and people who made theatre happen. More than just dates and lists of plays we'll learn about the social. political and historical context that fostered the creation of dramatic art.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - chartable.com/privacy

Hoste... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes278Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryArtsPerforming Arts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The History Of European Theatre

Latest Episodes

Episode 238:

If the autumnal feel to the later plays suggest to us that Shakespeare was feeling his age and thinking on his own mortality his next offering, ‘The Tempest’ does little to dispel that idea. There has long been an urge to identify Pros... more

YouTube

Episode 237:

Later in life Shakespeare was creating his plays with two very different performance spaces in mind, the Globe and the Blackfriars, but probably also with a mind to the portability of plays for when they were taken to the court and into... more

YouTube

Episode 236:

During the days when the theatres were closed due to the plague, we don’t know if Shakespeare accompanied the King’s Men of tour, holed up in London or returned to Stratford-Upon-Avon for an extended stay, but when he emerged from whate... more

YouTube

Episode 235:

Last time I took a first look at ‘The Alchemist’ where Ben Jonson mixed farcical comedy with satire and more serious commentary on the society of the 1610s. The play is notable, among other things, for having the time of plague as it’s ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Benjamin Blyth
Lecturer in Medieval and Early Modern Literature and Shakespeare director
St. Mary's University
Episode: Site Specific Shakespeare: A Conversation with Benjamin Blyth
Kay Daly
Writer, novelist, book and theatre reviewer, teacher and public humanities advocate
Kay Daly (independent writer)
Episode: The Alchemist as a Plague Comedy: A Conversation with Kay Daly
Daniel Hahn
Writer, editor and translator featured in If This Be Magic and The Unlikely Art of Shakespeare in Translation
Author/Translator
Episode: If This Be Magic – Translating Shakespeare: A Conversation with Daniel Hahn
Nick Brownlee
guest noted for commenting on lighting in staging discussions
Episode: Cymbeline: 'Tis Slander, Whose Edge is Sharper Than the Sword’
Kathryn Harkup
Science communicator and author of Death by Shakespeare
Self-employed / author
Episode: Death by Shakespeare: A Conversation with Kathryn Harkup
Marc Berley
Professor of English at Rutgers and Barnard, Columbia; author of Shakespeare on Sex
Rutgers University, Barnard College, Columbia University
Episode: Shakespeare on Sex: A Conversation with Marc Berley
Nic Brownlee
PhD researcher focusing on candlelight in Shakespeare's Blackfriars Playhouse
Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham
Episode: Lighting the Indoor Theatre: A Conversation with Nic Brownlee
Paul Fried
Retired college lecturer who studies Shakespeare and the Bible; author of Hamlet's Bible blog
Independent scholar / Hamlet's Bible blog
Episode: Shakespeare and Biblical Allusion: A Conversation with Paul Fried - Part 2
Kristen McDermott
Professor of English and co-author of Masques Of Difference; scholar of Shakespeare and Renaissance theatre
Central Michigan University
Episode: Masques of Difference: A Conversation with Kristen McDermott part 2

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 134 ratings
  • It's so great to have a proper analysis of the European theatre, without leaning into contemporary politics. Proper in-depth coverage that doesn't patronise. The presenter does a smashing job. I cannot fault it!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    memofromturner
    9 months ago
  • A Gem of a Podcast

    You don’t have to be a hardcore theater buff to enjoy this podcast. The episodes are well structured; the research is meticulous and in depth. The delivery is relaxing and low keyed.

    The podcast addresses the history of theater in Europe from multiple intersecting perspectives: the plays and playwrights, the playing spaces, the audiences’ experiences, and the milieus from which the productions arose.

    The podcast goes well beyond the texts of the dramas includes a wonderful array of theater... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hilary N R
    United Statesa year ago
  • Sublime

    These Are Brilliant - Treasures for mind, heart & soul!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bill 1106
    Canada2 years ago
  • Well told and explained

    We’re gifted here with an excellent story teller possessing profound insight who never beats a subject to death. Entertaining, enlightening and a pleasure to listen to!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Slanebrain
    United States2 years ago
  • Great resource

    This podcast is great! As a theatre practitioner it’s great learning more about European theatre. Highly recommended.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jrh67
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

A strong resource for practitioners and students seeking rigorous analysis of European theatre history.
Engaging deep dives that connect historical context to modern understanding of performance.
Well researched and beautifully delivered—a must for theatre history buffs.
High-quality scholarship presented accessibly, with thoughtful guests and clear explanations.

Top History Podcasts

World War II with Tom Hanks
World War II with Tom HanksThe HISTORY Channel | Back Pocket Studios | Audacy
History's Greatest Mysteries
History's Greatest MysteriesThe HISTORY Channel | Rewind Studios
The Ancients
The AncientsHistory Hit
Lore
LoreAaron Mahnke
In Our Time
In Our TimeBBC Radio 4

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Site Specific Shakespeare: A Conversation with Benjamin Blyth
Q: You examine five types of sites in the book, the first of which you've called Revenant Sites. So can you just give us an explanation about what you mean by that term? And an example of actually some quite famous venues that are included in that group.
Blyth uses the term for sites that connect present-day performances to memories or traces of the past without claiming to restore one authentic original experience. Examples include reconstructed venues such as the Globe and Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, archaeological sites such as the Rose and the Curtain, and architecturally evocative spaces.
Site Specific Shakespeare: A Conversation with Benjamin Blyth
Q: In your book, you examine how productions of Shakespeare respond to and are influenced by the performance areas that they're using. I think your interest in the subject really comes from your experience as a director for a company that uses a very specific space. So perhaps we could start with a word about your work with Malachite Theatre.
Blyth explains that his work with Malachite Theatre began after he returned from touring Italy in Macbeth. He proposed staging Titus Andronicus at St. Leonard's Church in Shoreditch, whose historical connections to Shakespeare's theatre community inspired further site-based productions and research.
If This Be Magic – Translating Shakespeare: A Conversation with Daniel Hahn
Q: Could you give us a little more detail about how a translator would replicate the Romeo and Juliet scene as a perfect sonnet in translation?
The translator aims to keep a perfect sonnet form with 14 lines and regular rhythm, because the form itself creates an effect that mirrors the theatrical moment; the goal is not to copy word-for-word but to preserve the rhyme, rhythm, and conceit so the audience experiences the same coherence and emotional arc.
Lighting the Indoor Theatre: A Conversation with Nic Brownlee
Q: Can we just clarify what we mean by candle?
We clarified that candles were likely wax or tallow, with wax being more expensive and brighter; the discussion covered the practical limitations of candles, wicks, and maintenance.
Collecting Thomas Kyd: A Conversation with Darren Freebury-Jones
Q: So how did you fill those two volumes?
The starting point was expanding the canon beyond the traditionally accepted plays, using evidence from historical scholarship to assign additional plays to Kyd and to reassess his place in early modern drama.

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 The History Of European Theatre

What is The History Of European Theatre about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A historically focused series that traces European theatre from ancient roots to modern practice through context, place, and people. Episodes center on scholarly analysis of plays, performance spaces, and court culture, often featuring guest experts such as Shakespeare scholars, dramaturgs, and theatre historians. Expect detailed discussions of staging, textual history, and social currents, with a clear emphasis on how venues, patrons, and politics shaped theatrical form. Notable strengths include rigorous research, nuanced interpretations, and accessible explanations that illuminate how historical theatres and performances inform contemporary understanding of drama and production design.

Where can I find podcast stats for The History Of European Theatre?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The History Of European Theatre. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The History Of European Theatre and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The History Of European Theatre get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The History Of European Theatre, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The History Of European Theatre?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The History Of European Theatre, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The History Of European Theatre have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The History Of European Theatre has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The History Of European Theatre?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The History Of European Theatre:

1. In Our Time
2. The Ancients
3. The History of England
4. Dan Snow's History Hit
5. The Rest Is History

How many episodes of The History Of European Theatre are there?

The History Of European Theatre launched 6 years ago and published 278 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The History Of European Theatre?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The History Of European Theatre?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The History Of European Theatre from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The History Of European Theatre?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The History Of European Theatre. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The History Of European Theatre?

Recent guests on The History Of European Theatre include:

1. Benjamin Blyth
2. Kay Daly
3. Daniel Hahn
4. Nick Brownlee
5. Kathryn Harkup
6. Marc Berley
7. Nic Brownlee
8. Paul Fried

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days