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.
Taylor Swift and Shakespeare
“Lend me your ears”: Harvard English professor Stephanie Burt explores the songs and songwriting of Shakespeare and Taylor Swift.
Apollo 11 and other scientific wonders
Mark the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission with a look at a fascinating Apollo 11 flight plan sheet that traveled to the Moon.
A Midsummer milestone for Tina Packer and Shakespeare & Company
Revisit Shakespeare & Company’s 1978 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with this excerpt from Katharine Goodland’s book on Shakespeare productions directed by Tina Packer.
Summer Reading: Beach Reads
It’s the heart of summer—and the perfect time to explore some recommended beach reads from the annals of our Folger Book Club!
What's onstage at Shakespeare theaters in July
See what the Folger’s theater partners have onstage in July. What are you planning to see this month?
Quiz: Shakespeare and travel
In this busy travel time, try out our “Travel and Shakespeare” quiz about journeys in his plays and in real life, too.
Celebrating a spectacular Fourth with Folger exhibitions
On display: A letter from Abigail Adams and other extraordinary American items help celebrate the Fourth of July.
Michael Witmore on serving as director and the renovation
Michael Witmore talks about his experiences as Folger director and the recent Folger grand reopening.
“Speak what terrible language you will”: Shakespeare and TikTok
Austin Tichenor on whether TikTok, like Shakespeare, is adding new words and phrases.
Order It: "Sermons in stones" from As You Like It
Shakespeare’s phrase “sermons in stones” is from a speech in As You Like It. Take this quiz to see if you can correctly order the lines.
14 Shakespeare Quotes About New Beginnings
As the Folger prepares to reopen, we turn to Shakespeare’s plays for quotations about new beginnings and fresh starts.
New Ideas for Summer Reading
Explore great Shakespeare-related ideas for summer reading from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s online book club, blogs, and podcast.