The Shakespeare & Beyond blog features a wide range of Shakespeare-related topics: the early modern period in which he lived, the ways his plays have been interpreted and staged over the past four centuries, the enduring power of his characters and language, and more.
Shakespeare & Beyond also explores the topics that shape our experience of Shakespeare today: trends in performance, the latest discoveries and scholarship, news stories, pop culture, interesting books, new movies, the rich context of theater and literary history, and more. As the word “beyond” suggests, from time to time Shakespeare & Beyond also covers topics that are not directly linked to Shakespeare.
Elsie Leslie: Sparkling Child Star of the American Stage
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Author
emma poltrack
Discover American child star Elsie Leslie through a fascinating mix of Folger finds, including Elsie Leslie as Prince Arthur in King John and posing for a photo with preeminent actor Edwin Booth.
In 1916, the 300th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death coincided with World War I, although the United States had not yet entered the conflict, yet both the US and European combatants on both sides of the war took time to honor…
In the spirit of Oktoberfest: Food, drink, and changing times in early modern Europe
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Author
Jack Bouchard
As October comes to an end, we celebrate food, drink, and culture in the German cities of Shakespeare’s day, including the creation of beer and wine and the harvest festivals each fall, marked by our modern-day tradition of Oktoberfest.
This thing of darkness: Caliban and the Creature from Frankenstein
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Author
Austin Tichenor
As Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein” marks its 200th anniversary (and with Halloween on its way), Austin Tichenor explores the parallels between the Creature from “Frankenstein” and Caliban from “The Tempest” and their fictional creators: Frankenstein and Prospero–as well as what…
Play on! Yvette Nolan on translating 'Henry IV, Part 1'
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Author
Shakespeare & Beyond
If you’ve been following the Shakespeare & Beyond blog, you’ll know that the Folger has been doing a monthly series of Q&As with some of the playwrights and dramaturgs involved with Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Play on! project to translate all…
The poisoning in Shakespeare’s play King John, and in Romeo and Hamlet, too, had real-world parallels, too. Delve into the infamous story of Thomas Overbury’s death at the Tower of London in 1613.
Every month, we share a snapshot of Shakespeare in performance around America. What plays are onstage this month? We visit our theater partners to find out.
The TV series “Shakespeare Uncovered” returns this Friday, October 12, with richly visual episodes. Watch video previews of Helen Hunt on “Much Ado About Nothing” and F. Murray Abraham on “The Merchant of Venice.”
At the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, "UpRight" readings in surprise locations
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Author
Ben Lauer
The Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s Pop-UpRight Shakespeare series brings lively, “upright,” on-your-feet staged readings of Shakespeare’s plays to surprise locations in and around Nashville.
