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
![Shax_beyond_small_banner](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2022/11/Shax_beyond_small_banner.jpg?resize=1200%2C400&gravity)
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.
![Shakespeare Shaving Paper](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2016/08/Shakespeare-Shaving-Paper.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
"You had more beard when I last saw you": a set of Shakespearean shaving papers
Two Folger exhibitions in this anniversary year have explored Shakespeare’s far-reaching effect on consumer culture: first, America’s Shakespeare considered how the United States has made the Bard our own, and now Will & Jane examines the celebrity status of literary superstars William…
![13th Night Comic Book 13th Night Comic Book](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2016/08/Page01-13thNight.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Comic book casts Shakespeare's First Folio in a horror story
Cue the scary music! A new comic book injects a little horror and occult magic into the story of the First Folio, in an effort to make Shakespeare more accessible to a younger generation. 13th Night was written to accompany…
![Will and Jane](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2016/08/Will-and-Jane.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Jane Austen's Shakespeare
Jane Austen, who was born in 1775, came of age in the 1790s and started publishing in the 1810s; her first novel, Sense and Sensibility, came out in 1811. She died in 1817, which makes 2017 the 200th anniversary of…
![Throwing the hammer Photo illustration by David Dilworth](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2016/08/Throwing-the-hammer.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
The Cotswold Olympicks
The Ancient Greeks may hold the franchise on Olympic wrestling—but how would they have fared against a 17th-century British shin-kicker? Explore the story of the Cotswold Olympicks.
![Shylock in District Merchants Shylock in District Merchants](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2016/08/DistrictMerchants_crTeresaWood.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Shakespeare's 'Merchant of Venice': Perpetuating stereotypes or sparking much-needed conversations?
Matthew Boston (Shylock) in District Merchants, a variation on Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Folger Theatre, 2016. Photo by Teresa Wood. Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice ends badly for Shylock, with the court ruling against him and his claim on Antonio’s…
![Utah, Henry V Bree Murphy (left) as Mistress Quickly and Marco Antonio Vega as Bardolph in the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s 2016 production of Henry V. (Photo by Karl Hugh. Copyright Utah Shakespeare Festival 2016.)](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2016/07/Utah_AHenryV-2695_crKarlHugh.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Shakespeare Live: Staging the plays outdoors
Bree Murphy (left) as Mistress Quickly and Marco Antonio Vega as Bardolph in the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s 2016 production of Henry V. Photo by Karl Hugh. Copyright Utah Shakespeare Festival 2016. Whether they are produced under the stars, in the moonlight, by…
![Will&Jane_ad_1080x1080](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2016/07/16-FSL-0446_1080x1080.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Reading ahead for "Will & Jane"
As you’ve seen on this blog already, the next Folger exhibition, Will & Jane: Shakespeare, Austen, and the Cult of Celebrity (August 6 to November 6), will be a fascinating look at the posthumous celebrities of William Shakespeare and Jane…
![Recipes for Thought book cover Wendy Wall, Recipes for Thought: Knowledge and Taste in the Early Modern Kitchen](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2016/07/Wall_bookcover.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
A perfect pairing: A recipe for almond jumballs and a podcast episode on "Recipes for Thought"
Early modern kitchens, food, and recipes offer an intriguing window on the world in which Shakespeare lived. Our new Shakespeare Unlimited podcast episode is a fascinating interview with Wendy Wall, who explores the role of food, kitchens, and other related subjects in…
![Cushman by Thomas Sully Thomas Sully. Charlotte Cushman. Oil on canvas, 1843. Folger Shakespeare Library.](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2016/07/008998.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Charlotte Cushman, an American star
Thomas Sully. Charlotte Cushman. Oil on canvas, 1843. As we celebrate Shakespeare in 2016, it’s also time to mark some other dates on the calendar. This Saturday, July 23, 2016, is the 200th anniversary of Charlotte Cushman’s birth. Cushman was among the…
![JossWhedon2MySHX400 Joss Whedon tells Shakespeare stories for Folger #MySHX400](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2016/07/JossWhedon2MySHX400.png?fit=10%2C10)
Watch videos of "my Shakespeare story" and tell us yours
For our yearlong celebration of Shakespeare in 2016, we’ve been inviting the world to share videos about personal connections and experiences with Shakespeare, with the hashtag #MySHX400. The results are varied, unexpected, and interesting. Enjoy some of those Shakespeare stories here and tell us…
![Kimberly-Gilbert-as-Joan Kimberly Gilbert will play Joan la Pucelle in this year's Bootleg Shakespeare: Henry VI, part 1. Photo by Marcus Kyd.](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2016/07/Kimberly-Gilbert-as-Joan.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
Staging Shakespeare in a day
Kimberly Gilbert will play Joan la Pucelle in 2016 in Bootleg Shakespeare: Henry VI, Part 1. Photo by Marcus Kyd. On Monday, July 18, the Taffety Punk Theatre Company will take over Folger Theatre to plan and perform a “bootleg” version…
![San Diego Public Library, wall of Shakespeare cards](https://images.folger.edu/uploads/2016/07/SDWall-scaled.jpg?fit=10%2C10)
How is Shakespeare relevant? Share why he matters to you
We were inspired by the “wall of cards” about Shakespeare created by San Diego visitors to the First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare tour, and we’d like to know why Shakespeare matters to you, too. Try our new Shakespeare Matters card to join the conversation,…