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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
Federico Garcia Lorca
The House Of Bernarda Alba
Blackpool
Eugene O'neill
Henrik Ibsen
Lynn Nottage
She Stoops To Conquer
Tyranny
Women's Rights
Repression

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 monthlyEpisodes107Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FictionArtsPerforming ArtsDrama

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Play Podcast

Latest Episodes

Episode 104: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

Host: Douglas Schatz Guest: Will Tosh 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 expert gue... more

YouTube

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 exper... 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 choose a single ... 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 depth with our ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Dr. Will Tosh
Director of Education at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
Episode: The Play Podcast - 104 - Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare
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
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 145 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 Kingdom5 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 - 104 - Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare
Q: What is the significance of Malvolio's treatment in the play?
Malvolio's arc shifts from being a figure of fun to someone who experiences dark mistreatment, highlighting themes of social ambition and punishment.
The Play Podcast - 104 - Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare
Q: What does the title 'Twelfth Night or What You Will' signify?
The title implies a connection to festive license and human desires, with 'What You Will' indicating the ambiguous nature of desire.
The Play Podcast - 104 - Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare
Q: Where does Twelfth Night or What You Will fit into the chronology and evolution of Shakespeare as a playwright?
It sits at the end of Shakespeare's festive comedies and the bridge to his tragedies, written around 1601-1602.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

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How many listeners does The Play Podcast get?

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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. Front Row
2. Arts & Ideas
3. Backlisted
4. The Rest Is Entertainment
5. In Our Time

How many episodes of The Play Podcast are there?

The Play Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 107 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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What guests have appeared on The Play Podcast?

Recent guests on The Play Podcast include:

1. Dr. Will Tosh
2. Beth Wynstra
3. Beth Steel
4. David Adjmi
5. Mark Rosenblatt
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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