Shakespeare for and Against

Synopsis

As celebrations begin to mark Shakespeare’s 450th birthday, playwright Mark Ravenhill challenges the adulation of the playwright and asks: Is Shakespeare’s genius beyond question? Exploring the intellectual tradition that has seen figures from Voltaire to Tolstoy to Wittgenstein challenge Shakespeare’s supremacy, Mark searches for today’s dissenting voices. As he talks to Royal Shakespeare Company artistic director Gregory Doran, theatre director Phyllida Lloyd and actors Simon Russell Beale and Fiona Shaw, Ravenhill explores what Shakespeare’s plays mean to theatre makers today and asks if Shakespeare is a problem for a contemporary theatre. He asks teachers and children if a play such as The Taming of the Shrew, with its dark and complex sexual politics is really suitable material for ten-year-olds. Scholar Ania Loomba describes India’s changing relationship with Shakespeare, while Professor Gary Taylor talks about the ambivalence of large parts of America towards Shakespeare. Readers are Amanda Drew and Paul Ritter.

Series

Sunday Feature

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Radio

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Online availability

URI

https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/play/p06dn7bl

Delivery

Streamed/Download

Credits

Producer

Matt Willis

Contributor

Amanda Drew; Edward Bond; Erica Whyman; Erin Sullivan; Ewan Fernie; Fiona Shaw; Gary Taylor (2); Gregory Doran; Howard Barker; Mark Ravenhill; Martin Higgins; Michael Dobson; Paul Ritter; Phyllida Lloyd; Simon Russell Beale

Archive

Name

British Library Sound Archive

Email

listening@bl.uk

Web

http://www.bl.uk/nsa External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7412 7676

Fax

020 7412 7441

Address

96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB

Distributor

Name

BBC iPlayer