Criticism
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The Handler: ‘Weaponry’ in Richard III
Can you weaponise a human being and keep your innocence? “A few quiet words. A token exchanged. And two children are condemned to be murdered in their sleep.”
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Burn The Witch: Humanity in St Thomas More
Thomas More is angry and upset by the treatment of refugees (strangers) by the mob. That’s exactly what I felt, reading his speech.
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From the Archives: 02.10.2017
Richard III continues to challenge us: ‘are some human lives worth more than others?’ At what point do we stop cheering him on?
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‘That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore’: Comedy in Julius Caesar
Comedy isn’t always about the joke itself. Sometimes it’s about the pleasure of recognising that somebody else has seen the joke too. Laughter is contagious, and highly sociable.
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Once In A Lifetime: Autumn in the Sonnets
Autumn? Let’s talk about it as a state of mind – not an opportunity for shops to sell us more landfill we don’t need. A first venture into the SONNETS for Shakespeare Sunday. plus supporting acts.
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From the Archives: 10.09.2019
Bogdanov’s book sits loud and proud on my shelf of Shakespeare books for the seriously interested. Part of that is just that it’s a bloody good read.
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She’s White: Skin in Antony and Cleopatra
Readers sometimes forget that the modern obsession with tanning is relatively recent.
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Red Right Hand: Hands in Macbeth
Macbeth? The play of blood. And black. And birds, too. But today, let’s talk about hands.
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From the Archives: 03.09.2018
Reading is an ongoing conversation between the writer and the reader.
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Wouldn’t It Be Nice: Education in As You Like It
A confession: every time I watch the play – and no matter who is playing the part – I fall in love with Rosalind all over again.