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The Play Podcast

Douglas Schatz
William Shakespeare
Addiction
King Lear
Family Dynamics
The Hills Of California
Harold Pinter
Othello
Jez Butterworth
Long Day's Journey Into Night
Clyde's
The House Of Bernarda Alba
Federico Garcia Lorca
Blackpool
Eugene O'neill
Henrik Ibsen
Lynn Nottage
She Stoops To Conquer
Women's Rights
Spanish Civil War
Tyranny

Welcome to The Play Podcast where we explore the greatest new and classic plays. In each episode we choose a single play to talk about in depth with our expert guest. We discuss the play’s origins, its plot, themes, characters, structure and impact. For us the play is the thing. Visit www.theplaypodcast.com for more information, including extra Footnotes on each episode and a complete list and pro... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes106Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsDramaPerforming ArtsFiction

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Artwork for The Play Podcast

Latest Episodes

Episode 103: Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare

Host: Douglas Schatz Guest: Max Webster Welcome to The Play Podcast where we explore the greatest new and classic plays. Each episode we choose a single play to talk about in depth with our expe... more

YouTube

Episode 102: Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe

Host: Douglas Schatz Guests: Duncan Macmillan              Jonny Donahoe

Welcome to The Play Podcast where we explore the greatest new and classic plays. Each episode we cho... more

YouTube

Episode 101: The 101 Greatest Plays

Host: Douglas Schatz Guests: Michael Billington              Mark Lawson

Welcome to The Play Podcast where we explore the greatest new and classic plays. Each episode we choose a single play to talk about in de... more

YouTube

Episode 100: A Moon for the Misbegotten by Eugene O'Neill

Host: Douglas Schatz Guest: Beth Wynstra

Welcome to The Play Podcast where we explore the greatest new and classic plays. Each episode we choose a single play to talk about in depth with o... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Beth Wynstra
O'Neill expert and Associate Professor of English at Babson College
Babson College
Episode: The Play Podcast - 100 - A Moon for the Misbegotten, by Eugene O'Neill
Beth Steel
Playwright and author of Till the Stars Come Down
National Theatre
Episode: The Play Podcast - 099 - Till the Stars Come Down, by Beth Steel
David Adjmi
Author of Stereophonic, award-winning playwright
Episode: The Play Podcast - 098 - Stereophonic, by David Adjmi
Mark Rosenblatt
Playwright and former theatre director
Episode: The Play Podcast - 097 - Giant, by Mark Rosenblatt
Matthew Dunster
Director with a remarkable record, has directed numerous plays across multiple esteemed venues
Donmar Warehouse
Episode: The Play Podcast - 096 - Dealer's Choice, by Patrick Marber
Omar Elerian
Freelance director, dramaturg, and theatre maker
Episode: The Play Podcast - 095 - Rhinoceros, by Eugène Ionesco
Edith Hall
Professor in the Department of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University
Durham University
Episode: The Play Podcast - 094 - Oedipus the King, by Sophocles
Rory Mullarkey
Esteemed playwright and translator of Chekhov's works
Episode: The Play Podcast - 093 - Three Sisters, by Anton Chekhov
Tinuke Craig
Director known for her work with the National Theatre, RSC, and Old Vic
Regents Park Open Air Theatre
Episode: The Play Podcast - 092 - A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry

Host

Douglas Schatz
Founder and host, bringing a deep passion for theatre and insightful questions to each discussion.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 138 ratings
  • A joy

    I love listening to this; a chance to listen to current interpretations of wonderful plays and understand the changing relevance of classic plays. Love it!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sunny dispositions
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Where are the women?

    Interesting discussions but only 6 (?) of the 100s of plays are by women. (Also please could you improve the sound quality for the guests.)

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Delphobus.
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Excellent quality podcasts

    All these podcasts are carefully researched and very clearly presented. Douglas Schatz also puts a lot of personal thought into each play and you feel you have a much better grasp of each one after hearing them. His guests are the best qualified to discuss each play, being either the author, director or an academic. Warmly recommended.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    annefnt
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Good podcast. Questionable host.

    The podcast is great and the guests have usually interesting insights about the plays, but the host is very sexist and his sexist views about the plays and the characters always transpire through his opinions. It can be infuriating at times. Some guests (usually with more progressive leanings) fight back and challenge these opinions, but often in the pursuit of civility these remain untouched.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    GenXleftie
    Belgium3 years ago
  • Excellent accessible podcast

    Brilliant podcasts entertainingly presented that gradually build your knowledge understanding and appreciation of plays and the theatre.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Il Posto G5
    United Kingdom4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Concerns have been raised about the representation of female playwrights and issues with sound quality in some episodes.
Many praise the host for his engaging style and ability to facilitate meaningful conversations.
Listeners appreciate the informative nature of the discussions and the depth of insights provided by the guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Play Podcast - 103 - Titus Andronicus, by William Shakespeare
Q: Why were you drawn to direct the play?
I think there is a kind of call upon us as artists to create work that emotionally matches the extremity and that wildness that's happening in the world.
The Play Podcast - 101 - The 101 Greatest Plays
Q: What were the criteria when you actually came to making the selection in this book?
Michael discusses having focused on specific productions and emotional reactions to plays as a criterion.
The Play Podcast - 100 - A Moon for the Misbegotten, by Eugene O'Neill
Q: What insights can you share about the main characters, Josie and Jim?
Josie Hogan is depicted as a strong-willed woman, while Jim Tyrone is a deeply flawed character haunted by his past, and their relationship explores themes of desire and emotional confrontation.
The Play Podcast - 100 - A Moon for the Misbegotten, by Eugene O'Neill
Q: Can you give us a brief summary of where this fits into Eugene O'Neill's life and career?
The play is set in 1923, reflecting O'Neill's deep autobiographical elements and connections to his family, particularly focusing on themes of forgiveness and past traumas.
The Play Podcast - 099 - Till the Stars Come Down, by Beth Steel
Q: Can you tell us about the main characters and the synopsis of the play?
The play revolves around three sisters: Sylvia, the bride; Maggie, the estranged sister returning home; and Hazel, the eldest, who is dealing with family conflicts and social issues.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Play Podcast

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

Focusing on both new and classic works, this podcast offers a deep dive into individual plays, featuring insightful discussions with expert guests. Each episode meticulously unpacks a play's origins, characters, themes, and its impact on the theatre landscape, bringing to light rarely explored nuances and interpretations. Notable for its commitment to educating listeners about lesser-known plays and their relevance today, it creates a rich tapestry of theatrical understanding, aiming to enhance appreciation for drama in all its forms. With a mix of critics, playwrights, and academics, the conversations are both engaging and informative, bridging the gap between historic and contemporary theatre practices.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Play Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Play Podcast. 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 Play Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Play Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Play Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does The Play Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Play Podcast 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 Play Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Play Podcast:

1. Backlisted
2. Arts & Ideas
3. The History of Literature
4. In Our Time
5. Front Row

How many episodes of The Play Podcast are there?

The Play Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 106 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 Play Podcast?

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 Play Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Play Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Play Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Play Podcast?

Recent guests on The Play Podcast include:

1. Beth Wynstra
2. Beth Steel
3. David Adjmi
4. Mark Rosenblatt
5. Matthew Dunster
6. Omar Elerian
7. Edith Hall
8. Rory Mullarkey

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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