The Play's the Thing
CiRCE Podcast NetworkThe Play's the Thing is the ultimate podcast resource for lovers of Shakespeare. Dedicating six episodes to each play (one per act, plus a Q&A episode), this podcast explores the themes, scenes, characters, and lines that make Shakespeare so memorable. In the end, we will cover every play The Bard wrote, thus permitting an ongoing contemplation and celebration of the most important writer of all t... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 207 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | FictionBooksArtsDrama | |||
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William Shakespeare is the most celebrated dramatist in the English language, perhaps any language. But who was the man behind the plays? Part one of two.
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Join Tim and Sarah-Jane as they answer your questions about Shakespeare's most underrated play.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode Tim and Sarah-Jane discuss Act IV of Coriolanus, focusing in particular on some ancient Roman history (especially the Roman Republic), the complexity of the plot in this act, and much more. Get ready to dig deep! Oh, and please do rat... more
In this episode Tim and Sarah-Jane dive deeper into Shakespeare's underrated tragedy by comparing some of the great performances of the play, exploring Coriolanus' use of language, Volumnia's use of rhetoric, and much more.
Hosted on Acast. See acas... more
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- Seem knowledgeable, but…
…the are VERY long winded and they have fallen into the trap of thinking the they’re the smartest people in the room and that they are the authority and that ONLY they have the proper interpretation of Shakespeare.
Apple Podcasts2McDuck1977
United States3 months ago - So Awesome!
You folks are manna from Shakespeare Heaven. Thank you so very much.
Apple Podcasts5RevAveryUnited States4 months ago - So thankful!
I am so thankful to have found this podcast. What a delight! My Shakespeare cup runneth over!
Apple Podcasts5torahforallUnited States8 months ago - To be Hamlet
I have been enjoying your Hamlet series. As a literature teacher who knows every line of the full play, there are moments when I find your interpretations challenging me to think of beloved scenes in new ways. At others, I find myself talking back to where my ear pods shut off. Your discussion of Fortinbras in act 4 was one such place. Fortinbras is Hamlet’s foil, which Hamlet makes clear in the battlefield scene. Our protagonist envies Fortinbras. He is resolute, strong of mind and conviction—a... more
Apple Podcasts4KTP1915United Statesa year ago - MacBeth
This was an awesome discussion of MacBeth. I thought I knew the play well but I gained so much from listening to these episodes. Thank you!!
Apple Podcasts5elbyboUnited Statesa year ago
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #190 | United States/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #186 |  South Africa/Arts/Books |
Talking Points
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Play's the Thing
What is The Play's the Thing about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A meticulous Shakespeare-focused show that allocates six episodes per play (one per act) plus a Q&A, offering close readings, historical context, and staging ideas. Across episodes, listeners engage with themes like mercy, justice, love, fate, and moral philosophy, with hosts balancing textual analysis, performance insights, and classroom pedagogy. Notable strengths include accessible explanations of complex scenes, strong emphasis on hermeneutics and teaching applications, and a reputation for thoughtful banter that pairs scholarly rigor with practical interpretation. It's probably especially appealing to teachers, actors, and literature lovers who want deep dives that connect the text to modern reading and performance.
Where can I find podcast stats for The Play's the Thing?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Play's the Thing. 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's the Thing and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does The Play's the Thing get?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Play's the Thing, 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 Play's the Thing?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Play's the Thing, 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 Play's the Thing have?
To see how many followers or subscribers The Play's the Thing 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's the Thing?
These podcasts share a similar audience with The Play's the Thing:
1. Close Reads Podcast
2. The Literary Life Podcast
3. Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling Mamas
4. The Daily Poem
5. The New Mason Jar with Cindy Rollins
How many episodes of The Play's the Thing are there?
The Play's the Thing launched 8 years ago and published 207 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's the Thing?
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's the Thing?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Play's the Thing 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's the Thing?
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What guests have appeared on The Play's the Thing?
Recent guests on The Play's the Thing include:
1. Judith Sparky Roberts
2. James Shapiro
3. Mary Pat Rogers
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.