Mini: Shakespeare for Autistic Individuals: The Flute Theatre with Kelly Hunter, MBE
Shakespeare Anyone?
In today's episode, we are joined in discussion with Kelly Hunter, MBE, to discuss her work producting Shakespeare for autistic audiences. We will discuss Kelly's professional journey that led her from working with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, and on the West End to founding The Flute Theatre and developing the Hunter Heartbeat Method in collaboration with autistic individuals. Kelly Hunter, MBE began working in theatre aged 17 playing The Mistress in Evita in the West End in 1980. Since then she has been creatively engaged in theatres, performing and adapting and...
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Romeo and Juliet: Feuds, Vendettas, and Duels
Shakespeare Anyone?
In today's episode, we are exploring the historical context for the family feud and violence between the Capulets and Montagues in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. We'll briefly revisit the history of medieval bloodfeuds that we examined in our episodes on Macbeth, then we will dive into the pratices of vendettas and dueling in the Italian renaissance and how this form of violence was imported into England, Scotland, and Wales in the late 1500s and early 1600s. We will examine the rise in popularity of dueling among young men of the English nobility and gentry, how the public...
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Mini: Ben Jonson, Shakespeare's Colleague and Competitor
Shakespeare Anyone?
In today's episode, we are exploring the life and works of one of Shakespeare's contemporaries: Ben Jonson. Often called "Shakespeare's rival," Ben Jonson was an early modern actor turned playwright who came from humble beginnings to achieve success on the London stages. We'll dive into the parallels between Shakespeare and Jonson's lives, and we'll discuss how Jonson may be the person who we should thank for Shakespeare's First Folio. Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. Follow us on...
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Romeo & Juliet: Teenagerdom in Shakespeare's Time
Shakespeare Anyone?
In today's episode, we will be discussing what is was like to be a teenager in Shakespeare's time, and how we can see early modern teenagerdom represented in Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. We will build on our previous explorations of the early modern understanding of age and youth from our episodes on girlhood and manhood, then dive into the lived experiences of early modern teens and young adults. Finally, we will discuss the early modern public health crisis of suicide among children and adolescents. Content Warning: Suicide If you or someone you know is struggling or in...
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Mini: Staging Violence in Shakespeare with Dr. Danielle Rosvally and Sydney Schwindt
Shakespeare Anyone?
In today's episode, we are joined by Dr. Danielle Rosvally and Sydney Schwindt to discuss how fight choreographers approach staging moments of violence in theatre, specifically in Shakespeare's plays. We will discuss how they collaborate with directors and actors to safely depict violence on stage, the state of the fight direction community, and how anyone can learn more about safe, consent-based practices for staging violence onstage. Our guests: Danielle Rosvally, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of theatre at the University at Buffalo where she serves as resident violence...
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Romeo and Juliet: Courtship and Marriage in Shakespeare's Time
Shakespeare Anyone?
In today's episode, we will be diving into the culture of courtship and marriage in early modern England. We will take a look at how the cultural norms and concerns surrounding marriage were shifting and changing in Shakespeare's time and how we can see this represented in Romeo and Juliet. We will also discuss how, at least in some parts of England and for certain classes, young people were able to resist some of the societal structures around courtship and marriage. Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Music is "Neverending...
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Mini: Shakespeare and Petrarch
Shakespeare Anyone?
In today's episode, we will be continuing our series on Shakespeare's Language Framework and our Shakespeare's Sources by taking a closer look at Petrarch. First, we will dive into the biography of Francesco Petrarca, more commonly known as Petrarch in English, the 14th century poet who had a huge influence on European humanism, the Renaissance, and poetry. Then, we will explore Petrarch's influence and how it spread across Europe before covering how we can see his influence in the works of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse...
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Romeo and Juliet: Patriarchy, Masculinity, and Honor
Shakespeare Anyone?
In today's episode, we're diving deep into the world of early modern masculinity, patriarchy, and honor as we dissect Shakespeare's iconic play, Romeo and Juliet. Our discussion begins with the examination of the expectations placed upon men during the early modern period and how those pressures are reflected in Shakespeare's play – the embodiment of honor, the nuances of patriarchy, and the various faces of masculinity depicted in Shakespeare's characters. Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander....
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Romeo and Juliet: Stuff to Chew On
Shakespeare Anyone?
To kick off our series on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, we are (as always) starting with an overview of basic facts about the play and an introduction to the major themes and motifs of the play. Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. Follow us on Instagram at for updates or visit our website at You can support the podcast by becoming a patron at or by shopping our bookshelves at Works referenced: Shakespeare, William, and René Weis. Romeo and Juliet: Revised Edition. Bloomsbury...
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Romeo and Juliet: Synopsis
Shakespeare Anyone?
It's time for a new play, which means a new synopsis! We are diving into Romeo and Juliet today, and we will be breaking down this play scene by scene. Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Special thanks to Nat Yonce for guest-editing this episode. Episode written by Elyse Sharp and Kourtney Smith. Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. Follow us on Instagram at for updates or visit our website at You can support the podcast at or by shopping our bookshelves at Works referenced: Shakespeare, William, and René Weis. Romeo...
info_outlineEach year, in recognition of the National Day of Mourning/Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, we examine how British colonialism is irrevocably intertwined with Shakespeare. This year, we are taking a look at how Shakespeare's works have been used to critique the legacy of colonialism.
We will look at how adaptations of Shakespeare's work from Martinique, Barbados, Cuba, and Kenya have utilized Shakespeare's stories and characters to represent and unpack the effects of colonialism. We also discuss a 2011 Palestinian production of A Midsummer Night's Dream that intentionally worked to create post-colonial version of Dream.
Because of current events at the time we are releasing this podcast, we also encourage our listeners to learn more about colonialism as it relates to Palestine and have included additional resources below.
Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.
Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander.
Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com
You can support the podcast at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone
Works referenced:
Additional resources on Palestine:
Non-fiction Books:
The Question of Palestine by Edward Said
The Hundreds’ Year War On Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917–2017 by Rashid Khalidi
The General’s Son: the Journey of an Israeli in Palestine by Miko Peled
Palestine, Israel and the U.S. Empire by Richard Becker
The Revolution of 1936-1939 in Palestine: Background, Details, Analysis by Ghassan Kanafani
Documentaries:
The Empire Files Presents: Gaza Fights for Freedom
The Empire Files Presents: The Untold History of Palestine & Israel
Al-Jazeera’s Ten Films to Watch About the History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Journalists:
Motaz Azaiza @motaz_azaiza
Plestia Alaqad @byplestia
Rania Khalek @raniakhalek
Wizard Bisan @wizard_bisan1
Photographers:
Hamdan Dahdouh @hamdaneldahdouh
Hamza Wael @hamza_w_dahdooh
Mohamed Al Masri @mohamed.h.masri
Ali Jadallah @alijadallah66
Video Creator:
Ahmed Hijazi @ahmedhijazee
Documenting Palestine @documentingpalestine
Podcasts:
The Palestinian Pod
Citations Needed Podcast Episode 28: The Asymptotic ‘Two State Solution’ (Part 1) and Episode 29: The Asymptotic ‘Two State Solution’ (Part 2)
Writer:
Jenan Matari @jenanmatari
Organizations:
Breaking the Silence: Israel @breakingthesilenceisrael
Aid:
Anera: helps refugees and vulnerable communities in Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan @aneraorg