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Artwork for The State of Shakespeare

The State of Shakespeare

The State of Shakespeare
Shakespeare
American Shakespeare Center
50-50 Shakespeare Project
Falstaff
Macbeth
Ethics
Gender Equity
Community Engagement
William Shakespeare
Folger Theatre
Theater
Acting
Comedy
Henry IV
Washington, DC
Othello
Thomas Sackville
Emilia Lanier
The Language Project
Romeo and Juliet

Great Interviews with Great Artists. We’re talking Shakespeare.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes100Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Language LearningPerforming ArtsEducationArts

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Artwork for The State of Shakespeare

Latest Episodes

Prague Shakespeare Festival Coriolanus: Act 3, Scene 3July 15, 2026 “There is a world elsewhere.” Guy Roberts came to the Czech Republic, a country literally ‘born in theatre', with the dream of creating an English language theatre company in the hea... more

Macbeth; Act 5, Scene 5 MacbethJune 24, 2026 For a poor player, strutting and fretting on the stage, sometimes words and verse can spell the difference between life and death. Jacob Ming-Trent stars in his original, multimedia, one-person play, How S... more

YouTube

Othello; Act 2, Scene 1 IagoJune 17, 2026 Who says, "I have to bring my truth to the part I'm playing": Ben Turner or Iago? In the Shakespeare Theatre of DC’s new production of Othello, Ben Turner reveals the humanity and heart beneath Iago’s machina... more

YouTube

Othello May 19, 2026 “What’s he, then, that says I play the villain?” Few questions more clearly reveal where each of us stands in today’s deeply polarized society. Recorded on the eve of a profoundly tense moment in global geopolitics, we speak with... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Jacob Ming-Trent
Actor; Folger Theatre, Shrek the Musical, The Harder They Come (and other credits)
Folger Theatre; various theatre companies
Episode: Jacob Ming-Trent
Ben Turner
Actor portraying Iago in Othello at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Episode: Ben Turner
Eric Tucker
Artistic Director, Bedlam Theatre Co.
Bedlam Theatre Co.
Episode: Bedlam
Susanna Melanzi
Actor/Bedlam company member
Bedlam Theatre Co.
Episode: Bedlam
Ryan Quinn
Actor/Bedlam company member
Bedlam Theatre Co.
Episode: Bedlam
Susanna Hoffman
Actor/Bedlam company member
Bedlam Theatre Co.
Episode: Bedlam
Jesse Berger
Founder of Red Bull Theater
Red Bull Theater
Episode: Jesse Berger and McKinley Belcher III
McKinley Belcher III
Actor portraying Aaron in Titus Andronicus
Red Bull Theater
Episode: Jesse Berger and McKinley Belcher III
Timothy Douglas
Internationally acclaimed director, actor and educator; associate artist on the Board of Trustees with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Episode: Timothy Douglas

Hosts

Garrett Vandermeer
Host and co-host of The State of Shakespeare; leads interviews and discussions on Shakespeare performance and pedagogy.
Jim Elliott
Co-host of The State of Shakespeare; conducts interviews with scholars and actors.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 23 ratings
  • Fantastic interview!

    Barry Edelstein’s interview is a must listen if you have any interest in the state of Theatre as a result of Covid.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    prof hhb
    United States5 years ago
  • Best Shakespeare Podcast our there

    I’ve been listening to this podcast since September when it was introduced to me. Not only is it informative, it’s honest and authentic. Jim Elliott and Gerritt VanderMeer allow the audience access to so many Shakespeare scholars and working Shakespearean actors with years and years of experience. I am grateful for Them State of Shakespeare’. It’s my favorite podcast on The Bard!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Actor Dan Pavacic
    United States6 years ago
  • Love it!

    Great stuff! Love the discussions and insight. Keep it up. And thanks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shakespeare Ninja
    United States14 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience comments highlight accessible, authentic discussions that pull back the curtain on theatre-making.
Many fans value the mix of scholarship and practical storytelling from live productions.
Listeners praise the candid, in-depth interviews with seasoned Shakespeare practitioners.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ben Turner
Q: How will you as an actor in the production know when issues of race are influencing your relationship with the cast and the audience?
Turner discusses interpreting race as a thematic undercurrent rather than a direct punchline, emphasizing the audience's complicity and the importance of a nuanced, modern rendering that doesn't reduce Iago to a single trait.
Bedlam
Q: What drew Bedlam back to Shakespeare with a four-person Othello?
The group explains that a smaller cast emphasizes intimacy, language, and a direct line of influence among the actors, allowing them to explore contemporary themes such as race and patriarchy more intensely than in larger productions.
Timothy Douglas
Q: How did you transition from acting to directing?
It started as a full stop after an unsuccessful move to Los Angeles, but opportunities as a coach and later as a director began to surface. A pivotal moment came when I agreed to direct A Raisin in the Sun for USC, which led to a formal path into directing.
Timothy Douglas
Q: Shakespeare, how did you get involved with Shakespeare in your life?
My formal training included a course on Shakespeare and heightened language, which planted the roots. After drama school I connected with Shakespeare and Company, where Tina Packer and Kristin Linklater deeply impacted my approach and confidence, leading to a lifelong association.
Tracy Michelle Arnold
Q: Why King John for the Language Project and what about the mother-son relationships in the play?
King John was chosen because it's relatively unknown and offers rich material for fresh interpretation. The speakers discuss Eleanor of Aquitaine, Constance, and other mother-son dynamics as a way to explore power, politics, and emotional depth, highlighting how Shakespeare gives voice to women even in historical/less-studied works.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About The State of Shakespeare

What is The State of Shakespeare about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful deep-dive into Shakespeare across performance, pedagogy, and contemporary cultural discourse. Episodes center on intimate, actor-driven productions (like a four-person Othello) and bold directorial choices (such as near-future stagings of Titus Andronicus), with conversations often framed around race, gender, language, and audience engagement. Noteworthy is the blend of practitioner voices—actors, directors, dramaturgs, and educators—who bring both historical insight and practical craft to the table, making it a strong pick for listeners who want to understand how Shakespeare is being reinterpreted today and what it takes to stage it compellingly. The show tends to blend scholarly perspective with on-the-ground theatre-making, ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The State of Shakespeare?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The State of Shakespeare:

1. Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited
2. Chop Bard
3. Shakespeare Anyone?
4. Hacks On Tap
5. Pod Save America

How many episodes of The State of Shakespeare are there?

The State of Shakespeare launched 15 years ago and published 100 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 The State of Shakespeare?

Recent guests on The State of Shakespeare include:

1. Jacob Ming-Trent
2. Ben Turner
3. Eric Tucker
4. Susanna Melanzi
5. Ryan Quinn
6. Susanna Hoffman
7. Jesse Berger
8. McKinley Belcher III

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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