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
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.
Questions or comments? You can reach us at shakespeareandbeyond@folger.edu.
High spirits: Alchemy in Elizabethan England
Jennifer Rampling, a Princeton history professor and author of The Experimental Fire: Inventing English Alchemy, 1300–1700, explores alchemy in Shakespeare’s England.
A round-up of intriguing looks at "Romeo and Juliet"
As we welcome Folger Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet, we take a look back at some intriguing and varied highlights of our past looks at the play.
Order It: Greeting autumn with Sonnet 73
Mark the recent equinox and the start of autumn in the northern hemisphere with a look at Sonnet 73. Take this quiz to see if you can correctly order the lines.
Q&A with director Raymond O. Caldwell on Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare and AI, and his “love letter to DC”
In a Q&A, director Raymond O. Caldwell explores divisive politics, youth-related issues, and how Folger Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet is a “love letter to DC.”
“Th’ unruly camp”: The savage Shakespearean beauty of Deadwood
Austin Tichenor dives deep into the Shakespearean character of the HBO Western Deadwood, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Sebastian and Antonio's hidden queer lives
In an excerpt from Straight Acting: The Hidden Queer Lives of William Shakespeare, Will Tosh uses lines from Twelfth Night to trace Sebastian and Antonio’s relationship.
What's onstage at Shakespeare theaters in September
Read our round-up of September performances from Shakespeare theaters across the country.
Q&A: Greg Prickman on Imprints in Time, a dazzling special exhibition
Greg Prickman discusses Imprints in Time, the first special exhibition in the new space, including Tolkien’s edits and an ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead.
How popular was Shakespeare in his day?
In an excerpt from a classic Shakespeare Unlimited podcast episode, Emma Smith explores a fascinating question: how popular was Shakespeare in his lifetime?
Quiz: What do you know about "Romeo and Juliet"?
Challenge yourself with a quiz about Romeo and Juliet; Folger Theatre’s production is beginning performances on October 1.
The roles of the river in early modern times
An excerpt from Reading the River in Shakespeare’s Britain surveys some of the cultural roles of rivers, including how Shakespeare mentioned them in his plays.
Q&A: Peggy O’Brien on a fantastical Shakespeare map
Peggy O’Brien helps us explore a giant, richly detailed fictional map filled with Shakespeare’s characters, newly created for the Folger’s exhibition spaces.