The Play's the Thing
Books & Literature
About
The 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 time. Join us. The Play’s the Thing is presented by The CiRCE Podcast Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
- Coriolanus: Act II (rerun)
This episode of The Play's the Thing features a discussion of Shakespeare's Coriolanus, focusing on notable performances and the rhetorical devices used by characters like Coriolanus and Volumnia.
- Coriolanus: Act I (rerun)
Tim McIntosh and Sarah-Jane Bentley discuss Act I of Shakespeare's Coriolanus, covering its characters, themes, and comparing it to plays like As You Like It. This is a rerun from April 2020.
- The Merchant of Venice: Q&A (rerun)
Tim, Heidi, and Sarah-Jane answer listener questions in this rerun episode of The Play's the Thing, focusing on The Merchant of Venice.
- The Merchant of Venice: Bonus with Sparky Roberts (rerun)
In this episode of The Play's the Thing, host Tim discusses whether Shakespeare was anti-semitic with guest Judith "Sparky" Roberts. Roberts, who has a Jewish background, shares insights based on her experience as a theatre teacher and gra…
- The Merchant of Venice: Act V (rerun)
Tim, Heidi, and Sarah-Jane conclude their discussion of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, focusing on Act V.
- The Merchant of Venice: Act IV (rerun)
Act IV is usually the key act in any Shakespeare play, and The Merchant of Venice isn't any different. Join Tim, Heidi, and Sarah-Jane as they explore why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- The Merchant of Venice: Act III (rerun)
Join Tim, Heidi, and Sarah-Jane as they dive Into the always-important third act of The Merchant of Venice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- The Merchant of Venice: Act II (rerun)
Join Tim, Heidi, and Sarah-Jane as they discuss Shakespeare's exploration of the folly of people who are put to the test, Bossanio's role (and his name), Shylock's complex role in the play, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri…
- The Merchant of Venice: Act I (rerun)
Join Tim, Heidi, and Sarah-Jane as they dive into Shakespeare's great play, The Merchant of Venice . In this episode, they discuss the character of Portia, Shylock's unnerving nature, a little of bit of context, and much more. Hosted…
- James Shapiro and Shakespeare in a Divided America (rerun)
In this episode, noted author James Shapiro joins the show to discuss his new book, Shakespeare in a Divide America . Dr. Shapiro and Tim discuss Donald Trump, Abraham Lincoln, and John Wilkes Booth in a conversation about how Shakes…
- Romeo + Juliet: Q&A (rerun)
In this episode Tim, Heidi, and Sarah Jane are answering your questions about Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Romeo + Juliet: Act V (rerun)
Join Tim, Heidi, and Sarah-Jane as they discuss love and death, the differences between Romeo and Juliet as they encounter death, personal and public interpretations of the play, and whether or not the families within the story actually le…
- Romeo + Juliet: Act IV (rerun)
Act IV of Romeo and Juliet examines the fallout from Tybalt and Mercutio's violent deaths. Join Tim, Heidi, and Sarah-Jane as they discuss Shakespeare's love of strong women, the connections between love and death, and whether or not Romeo…
- Romeo + Juliet: Act III (rerun)
Join Tim, Heidi, and Sarah-Jane as they discuss Mercutio and Tybalt's death and Romeo's fleeing in exile. Plus, they take up the question, what is "the form of a man?" The Play's the Thing is produced by Goldberry Studios for the CiRCE Pod…
- Romeo + Juliet: Act II (rerun)
Join Tim, Heidi, and Sarah-Jane as they discuss Mercutio, Friar Lawrence, fate and fortune, the famous balcony scene, and what actually is in a name, anyway . . . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Romeo + Juliet: Act I (rerun)
Join Tim, Heidi, and Sarah-Jane as they dive into one of Shakespeare's greatest and most misunderstood plays. Listen as they rhapsodize over Shakespeare's linguistic genius, speculate about why this story continues to be so influential and…
- Hamlet: Q&A (rerun)
Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they answer your questions about Hamlet! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Hamlet: Act V (rerun)
Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they discuss the concluding act to Shakespeare's masterpiece, an act in which we get the famous graveyard scene and the stage littered with bodies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Hamlet: Act IV (rerun)
Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they dig into the crucial fourth act of Hamlet. They discuss Laertes coming the fore, Ophelia's tragic demise, Claudius devious behavior, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa…
- Hamlet: Act III (rerun)
Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they dive into the crucial, famous third act of Hamlet. In this episode they discuss the "to be or not to be" speech, Claudius' prayer, and Polonius death. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info…
- Hamlet: Act II (rerun)
Join Tim, Heidi, and Andrew as they dive into the drama of Hamlet, Act II! They discuss the way everyone is watching everyone else in this act, Pelonius as parent, the appearance of Rosencrans and Guildenstern, and much more. Hosted on Aca…
- Hamlet: Act I (rerun)
It's finally time to discuss the grandaddy of all of Shakespeare's plays! That's right, it's time for Hamlet and Tim, Heidi, and special guest Andrew Kern are ready to dig deep. In this episode they discuss why this play matters so much, t…
- Henry V: Act V (rerun)
Join Heidi and David for the conclusion of their conversation about Shakespeare's classic history play, Henry V . Conversation explores King Henry's honesty (or lack thereof) in the final scene with Princess Katherine, the role of the comm…
- Henry V: Act IV (rerun)
Welcome back to The Play's the Thing! Join David and Heidi as they continue their conversation about Shakespeare's legendary history play, Henry V . Conversation touches on the build-up to the battle, stage/film interpretation of Hen…
- Henry V: Act III (rerun)
Welcome back to The Play's the Thing! Join David and Heidi as they continue their conversation about Shakespeare's legendary history play, Henry V . Conversation explores the way Shakespeare brings the artifice of the play to the for…
- Henry V: Act II (rerun)
Welcome back to The Play's the Thing! Join David and Heidi as they continue their conversation about Shakespeare's legendary history play, Henry V . Conversation explores the role of the commoners in the play, The Falstaff-effect, Henry vs…
- Henry V: Act I (rerun)
Welcome back to The Play's the Thing! Join David and Heidi as they kick off a conversation about Shakespeare's legendary history play, Henry V. Conversation touches on the historical background behind the story, the role of the church in t…
- Macbeth: Q&A (rerun)
In which David, Tim, and Heidi answer listener questions about Macbeth. Remember: Subscribe, rate, review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Macbeth: Act V (rerun)
Welcome to the conclusion of this series on Macbeth . In this conversation David, Heidi, and Tim explore the madness of the play's primary characters, discuss the question of evil, and contemplate the collision of the natural and the super…
- Macbeth: Act IV (rerun)
Topics of conversation include the return of the witches and the way the witch scenes in Act I.I and Act IV.I mirror each other, what the play would be without the witches, the question of whether this is a "Christian play," the terrible p…
- Macbeth: Act III (rerun)
Welcome back to this ongoing discussion of Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth. Topics of conversation include act III turning points, the presence fo supernatural forces, and the downward trajectory of the characters and action of the play. Ho…
- Macbeth: Act II (rerun)
Join David, Heidi, and Tim as they dive ever-deeper into the Macbeth family treachery. Conversation touches on Macbeth's mental state, Shakespeare's formal choices in Macbeth's monologues, the themes of repentance and time in the play, and…
- Macbeth: Act I (rerun)
Welcome back to The Play's the Thing, where we discuss Shakespeare's canon, one act at a time. In this episode, David, Tim, and Heidi dive into one of the great tragedies, Macbeth. Topics of conversation include the play's reputation, the…
- As You Like It: Bonus Episode (rerun)
In this bonus episode, Tim chats with four first-time student-actors about their experience performing scenes from As You Like It and other Shakespeare plays. If you like this episode be sure to rate and review wherever you listen to podca…
- As You Like It: Act V (rerun)
Welcome back to this series on Shakespeare's classic comedy, As You Like It ! In this series Tim and Heidi discuss love and disorder in Shakespearean comedy, the natural world versus the civilized world, Rosalind's delightfulness, and how…
- As You Like It: Act IV (rerun)
Welcome back to this series on Shakespeare's classic comedy, As You Like It ! In this series Tim and Heidi discuss love and disorder in Shakespearean comedy, the natural world versus the civilized world, Rosalind's delightfulness, and how…
- As You Like It: Act III (rerun)
Welcome back to this series on Shakespeare's classic comedy, As You Like It ! In this series Tim and Heidi discuss love and disorder in Shakespearean comedy, the natural world versus the civilized world, Rosalind's delightfulness, and how…
- As You Like It: Act II (rerun)
Welcome back to this series on Shakespeare's classic comedy, As You Like It ! In this series Tim and Heidi discuss love and disorder in Shakespearean comedy, the natural world versus the civilized world, Rosalind's delightfulness, and how…
- As You Like It: Act I (rerun)
Welcome to our new series on Shakespeare's classic comedy, As You Like It ! In this series Tim and Heidi discuss love and disorder in Shakespearean comedy, the natural world versus the civilized world, Rosalind's delightfulness, and how Sh…
- Julius Caesar: Act V (rerun)
This episode is brought to you The Classic Learning Test - a fantastic alternative to the ACT and SAT. Learn more at cltexam.com. Welcome back to The Play's the Thing, where we're working through Shakespeare one act at a time. Today Heidi,…
- Julius Caesar: Act IV (rerun)
Welcome back to The Play's the Thing, where Heidi, Matt, and Brian discussing Julius Caesar. This episode is all about act IV and topics of conversation include the shifting dynamics in the aftermath of Caesar's death + suicide, failed rhe…
- Julius Caesar: Act III (rerun)
Welcome back to The Play's the Thing where we're talking Shakespeare one act at a time. This week, Heidi, Matt, and Brian discuss Julius Caesar , Act III. There's lots of speech-making in this act so, yeah, they discuss that. And amb…
- Julius Caesar: Act II (rerun)
Welcome back to The Play's the Thing where contributors from the Close Reads Podcast Network discuss Shakespeare's canon one act at a time. In this episode, Heidi White, Matt Bianco, and Brian Phillips continue discussion of Julius C…
- Julius Caesar: Act I (rerun)
Welcome back to The Play's the Thing. In this episode, Heidi White, Matt Bianco, and Brian Phillips kick off conversation on Julius Caesar, focusing on Act I. Conversation touches on why highschoolers should read this play, the historical…
- Much Ado About Nothing: Act 5 (rerun)
Join Andrew Kern and Angelina Stanford for the conclusion of their discussion about Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing . If you like this show remember to subscribe, rate, and review. Support us on Patreon ! To learn more about the Close…
- Much Ado About Nothing: Act 4 (rerun)
In this episode of The Play's the Thing, Andrew Kern and Angelina Stanford discuss Act IV of Much Ado About Nothing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Much Ado About Nothing: Act 3 (rerun)
Welcome back to The Play's the Thing where Andrew Kern and Angelina Stanford are discussing Act 3 of Much Ado About Nothing. Conversation touches on how the play would have come off in Shakespeare's day, the way Shakespeare plays with vers…
- Much Ado About Nothing: Act 2 (rerun)
Welcome to The Play's the Thing, a podcast dedicated to an ongoing examination and celebration of Shakespeare's entire canon. In this episode, Angelina, and Andrew discuss Act II of Much Ado About Nothing . This episode is brought to you o…
- Much Ado About Nothing: Act 1 (rerun)
Welcome to The Play's the Thing, a podcast dedicated to an ongoing examination and celebration of Shakespeare's entire canon. In this episode, David, Angelina, and Andrew Kern discuss Act I of Much Ado About Nothing . Topics of conversatio…
- Cymbeline (rerun)
In this episode, Tim McIntosh and special guest Madelaine Wheeler discuss one of Shakespeare's weirdest plays. What sort of play is Cymbeline? A comedy, drama, fantasy — a mashup of all three? Also: Shakespeare speaks into the perennial&nb…