Shakespeare Anyone?

Kourtney Smith & Elyse Sharp•www.shakespeareanyone.com

Shakespeare Anyone? is co-hosted by Elyse Sharp and Kourtney Smith, two professional actors and hobbyist Shakespeare scholars. Join us as we explore Shakepeare’s plays through as many lenses as we can by looking at the text and how the text is viewed through modern lenses of feminism, racism, classism, colonialism, nationalism… all the-isms. We will discuss how his plays shaped both the past and present, and look at how his work was performed throughout various periods of time–all while trying our best to approach his works without giving in to bardolatry. We examine one play at a time for an extended window of time, interspersed with mini-episodes about Shakespeare’s time for context. Episodes are released every other week.

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Episodes

Macbeth: King James's Play

Remember when we said that we'd cover all of the different parts of Macbeth that were influenced by King James being on the throne or written *just* for him? In this episode, we finally get around to talking about all of that! Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was "Korey Leigh Smith". Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. Works referenced: Calhoun, Howell V. “JAMES I AND THE WITCH SCE...

May 12, 2021•52 min

Mini-Episode: The Four Humours

Today we have a new mini-episode for you! In these mini-episodes, we’ll be exploring topics that are related to Shakespeare but aren’t necessarily connected to whatever play we’ve been discussing. And they’re mini, because well, they’re shorter than our other episodes. They’re like quartos if the regular episodes are folio editions. In today's episode, we are exploring the Four Humours, which were a widely held theory in medicine during Shakespeare's time and which are referenced throughout his ...

Apr 28, 2021•21 min

Macbeth: Tyranny and Treason

In this week's episode, we'll be discussing the elements of tyranny and treason as they appear in Shakespeare's play Macbeth as well as modern parallels to the plot and character of Macbeth and the implications of tyranny and treason in the Early Modern Era. Shakespeare Anyone? is created, written, produced, and hosted by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was "Korey Leigh Smith". Our theme music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. Wor...

Apr 14, 2021•51 min

Mini-Episode: The Gunpowder Plot

Introducing the first of our Mini Episodes! In these mini-episodes, we’ll be exploring topics that are related to Shakespeare but aren’t necessarily connected to whatever play we’ve been discussing. And they’re mini, because well, they’re shorter than our other episodes. They’re like quartos if the regular episodes are folio editions. In this episode, we dive into the Gunpowder Plot--an event which shook Early Modern England and shaped Shakespeare's Macbeth . Shakespeare Anyone? is created and p...

Mar 31, 2021•22 min

Macbeth: Gender Politics

In this episode, we are examining the gender politics of Shakespeare's Macbeth : how gender is represented in the play and how it affects our understanding of characters. Shakespeare Anyone? is created, written, produced, and hosted by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was using the stage name "Korey Leigh Smith". Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website...

Mar 17, 2021•52 min

Macbeth: King James I's Demonology, a Summary (Oof!)

In this episode, we tackle reading King James I's Demonology so you don't have to! Because it. is. a. lot. But there's also plenty of source material in there that likely informed the depiction of witchcraft in Macbeth . Shakespeare Anyone? is created, written, produced, and hosted by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Our theme music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. Works Referenced: King James VI and I. (2008). Daemonologie . Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Accessed x Nov. 2020...

Mar 03, 2021•36 min

Macbeth: King James I’s Obsession with Witchcraft in Early Modern Scotland and the North Berwick Witch Trials

Ever read Macbeth and wonder, "Why witches?" Well, if you were trying to earn favor with your new Scottish King who was OBSESSED with witchcraft, maybe you'd write some witches into your very Scottish play. In this episode, we explore the concept of witchcraft in Early Modern Scotland, King James I's obsession with the topic, and the North Berwick Witch Trials to discover the cultural context that surrounded the creation of Shakespeare's Weird Sisters. Shakespeare Anyone? is created, written, pr...

Feb 17, 2021•55 min

Macbeth: Stuff to Chew On

There's so much to talk about with each play that doesn't fit into the synopsis or into its own episode, so we've decided to cover several topics in this episode. In this episode, we discuss major thematic elements in Shakespeare's Macbeth as well as topics that are usually covered or talked about in reference to this play. Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was using the stage name "Korey Leigh Smit...

Feb 03, 2021•29 min

Macbeth: Synopsis

Before diving into our discussions surrounding Macbeth , we wanted to give a synopsis of the events of the play as they are written for anyone who hasn't read the play at all, in a while, or found it confusing to try and read on their own. Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was using the stage name "Korey Leigh Smith". Episode written by Elyse Sharp. Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sande...

Jan 20, 2021•53 min

Stuff You Should Know Part 3: William Shakespeare (Revised)

This is Part 3 of our intro series “Stuff You Should Know,” which covers some background and context into the life and times of Shakespeare, because art isn’t created in a vacuum. In this episode, we’ll be covering some basic information about Shakespeare. And when we say basic, we mean basic. And, even though Shakespeare is a famous figure, scholars and historians actually know quite little about William Shakespeare the man. We will discuss what scholars know about Shakespeare's early life in S...

Jan 06, 2021•20 min

Stuff You Should Know Part 2: Elizabethan and Jacobean England & Theatre (Revised)

This is Part 2 of our intro series “Stuff You Should Know,” which covers some background and context into the life and times of Shakespeare, because art isn’t created in a vacuum. In this episode, we’ll be covering some basic information about early modern England during the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. And when we say basic, we mean basic. This is a quick overview of early modern England, more importantly the England that influenced Shakespeare. In this episode, we’ll be covering some basic i...

Jan 06, 2021•25 min

Stuff You Should Know Part 1: The Monarchy & English Renaissance (Revised)

This is Part I of our intro series, “Stuff You Should Know,” which covers some background and context into the life and times of Shakespeare, because art isn’t created in a vacuum. In this episode, we’ll be covering some basic information about the monarchy and English Renaissance. And when we say basic, we mean basic. This is a quick overview of early modern England, more importantly the England that influenced Shakespeare. In this episode, we’ll be covering some basic information about the Eng...

Jan 06, 2021•20 min

Shakespeare Anyone? Trailer

Introducing Shakespeare Anyone? A podcast by two Shakespeare nerds...minus the bardolatry. Coming in 2021. Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was using the stage name "Korey Leigh Smith". Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod for updates or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com

Dec 30, 2020•1 min

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