Over 4000 free audio and video lectures, seminars and teaching resources from Oxford University.
Skip to Content Skip to Navigation

drama

# Episode Title Description People Date
1 Creative Commons Marco Martinelli and Teatro delle Albe: Italy and Community Theatre A podcast with Marco Martinelli Marco Martinelli, Giovanna Di Martino, Claire Barnes 23 Apr 2024
2 Creative Commons Love's Labour's Lost Emma Smith continues her Approaching Shakespeare series with a lecture on the play Love's Labour's Lost. Emma Smith 12 Feb 2024
3 Creative Commons Practice Makes… Eighteenth-Century Theatre Today David Taylor, specialist in eighteenth-century theatre, and Colin Blumenau, former Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, talk about performing eighteenth-century drama on the modern stage. David Taylor, Colin Blumenau, Helen Dallas, Madeleine Saidenberg 14 Nov 2022
4 Tragic Form in Kamila Shamsie's Home Fire Naomi Weiss delivers a public lecture on Kamila Shamsie's award-winning novel, Home Fire Naomi Weiss 15 Dec 2021
5 Greek Tragedy at the National Theatre of Prague during the Nazi occupation (1939 – 1945) Alena Sarkissian gives public lecture, subtitled 'Theatre as a space of Spiritual Contemplation', on Greek Tragedy in the Czech Republic under Nazi Occupation. Alena Sarkissian 12 Feb 2021
6 Diversity in the arts: why languages need to be part of the conversation Many languages and dialects spoken in British homes rarely make it onto the stage. In this episode of LinguaMania, we explore why linguistic diversity in the arts matters. Rajinder Dudrah, Mojisola Adebayo, Philip Bullock, Ashlee Elizabeth-Lolo 29 May 2020
7 The Multilingual Performance Project: celebrating languages through drama The Multilingual Performance Project (MPP) showcases and celebrates the multilingual nature of schools and demonstrates how multilingualism can interact creatively with teaching in the classroom, promoting both taught languages and community languages. Daniel Tyler-McTighe, Holly Bateman, Ann Poole, Eneida Garcia Villanueva 15 May 2020
8 The Keble Debates: Michaelmas 2019 The Keble Debates are termly conversations bringing together leading figures from the worlds of theatre, fiction and poetry to explore contemporary issues in the arts, and the way the arts engage with contemporary issues in wider society. David Haig, Nick Starr, Robin Geffen, Barney Norris 06 Jan 2020
9 Creative Commons Changing Directions - Journeys in theatre, opera and installation World-renowned British director of theatre and opera, Deborah Warner, delivers her inaugural lecture as the 27th Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre. Deborah Warner 17 Oct 2019
10 Creative Commons Character in Modern Drama Kirsten Shepherd-Barr investigates 'character' in Modern Drama Kirsten Shepherd-Barr 07 Mar 2019
11 The Heterarchical Director - A Model of Authorship for the Twenty-First Century The keynote talk for 'Collaboration in Theatre symposium' at the University of Oxford, 19 October 2018. Duška Radosavljević 18 Dec 2018
12 Creative Commons The Two Gentlemen of Verona Professor Emma Smith gives the last of her 2017 Shakespeare lectures on his early comedy, Two Gentlemen of Verona. Emma Smith 15 Dec 2017
13 The Keble Debates: Interview with Nick Starr An interview with Nick Starr (founder of the London Theatre Company and Executive Director of the National Theatre 2002-2014), preceding the first of the Keble Debates. Nadia Fall, Nick Starr, Ben Power, Barney Norris 08 Dec 2017
14 The Keble Debates: Drama The first of the Keble Debates bringings together leading figures from the world of theatre to explore contemporary issues in the arts and the way the arts engage with contemporary issues in wider society. Barney Norris, Nadia Fall, Nick Starr, Ben Power 08 Dec 2017
15 Creative Commons Henry VI, Part 2 Professor Emma Smith continues her Approaching Shakespeare series with a 2017 lecture on the early history play, Henry VI, Part 2. Emma Smith 09 Nov 2017
16 Dame Maggie Smith in Conversation Dame Maggie Smith and Baroness Helena Kennedy QC in conversation Maggie Smith, Helena Kennedy 27 Oct 2017
17 Creative Commons The Merry Wives of Windsor Professor Emma Smith lectures on Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor. Emma Smith 25 Oct 2017
18 Creative Commons All's Well That Ends Well Professor Emma Smith lectures on Shakespeare’s comedy All's Well That Ends Well. Emma Smith 25 Oct 2017
19 Creative Commons Cymbeline Professor Emma Smith continues her Approaching Shakespeare series with a lecture on one of Shakespeare’s later plays, Cymbeline. Emma Smith 25 Oct 2017
20 Professing Sir Tom Stoppard delivers the Cameron Mackintosh Inaugural lecture 2017 Tom Stoppard 16 Oct 2017
21 Making a Contemporary Opera: in conversation with Michael Burden In this episode Katie talks in depth about her experiences of creating new and contemporary opera. Katie Mitchell, Michael Burden 10 May 2017
22 Director Wayne Jordan discusses Oedipus (Abbey Theatre 2015) The Abbey Theatre's artistic director Wayne Jordan talks to Professor Fiona Macintosh, about his acclaimed 2015 production of Sophocles' Oedipus. Wayne Jordan, Fiona Macintosh 03 May 2017
23 Experiencing the late Georgian theatre This episode explores what it was like to experience theatre in this era, including how theatres were laid out and designed, what it was like to be in the audience, and how plays were written, advertised and staged. Michael Burden, David Kennerley, Susan Valladares 14 Dec 2016
24 Extracts from Shakespeare, read by Roland Oliver (actor): Richard II Act V, Scene 5; Macbeth Act II, Scene 1; Henry IV Part 2, Act IV, Scene 3 Roland (an actor and alumnus of St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford) concludes the ‘Shakespeare and the Brain’ event by reading relevant extracts from three of Shakespeare’s plays. Roland Oliver 12 Dec 2016
25 The Hunter Heartbeat Method – Kelly Hunter (actor, director and educator) Kelly gives an outline of some of her work using sensory drama games, using Shakespeare’s works, to interact and play with children with autism. Kelly Hunter 12 Dec 2016
26 Shakespeare’s Memory – Professor Rodrigo Quian Quiroga (Director of the Centre for Systems Neuroscience, University of Leicester) Rodrigo’s talk references the writing of Jorge Luis Borges, particularly his short stories 'Shakespeare’s Memory' and 'Funes the Memorious', which deal with memory. Rodrigo Quian Quiroga 12 Dec 2016
27 Shakespeare as Observer and Psychologist – Professor Paul Matthews (Fellow by Special Election, St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford; Edmond and Lily Safra Chair and Head of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London) Paul focuses on some of the questions that Shakespeare was asking about the mind, and how the same sorts of issues are approached now by neuroscientists. Paul Matthews 12 Dec 2016
28 Shakespeare, Mind and World – Dr Tom MacFaul (Lecturer in English, St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford) Tom discusses how Shakespeare’s age thought about thinking. In particular, he looks at the transformative power of thought and the idea in some of Shakespeare’s works that the mind is free to create its own world. Tom MacFaul 12 Dec 2016
29 Creation and Immigration Claude-Michel Schönberg delivers his inaugural lecture as the Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre Claude-Michel Schönberg 22 Nov 2016
30 Performing Shakespeare: then and now Jonathan Lloyd and Tiffany Stern, discuss performing Shakespeare in the past and now Jonathan Lloyd, Tiffany Stern 02 Nov 2016
31 Les Liaisons dangereuses in 5x5 - From Page to Stage A conversation about about stage and screen adaptations of Les Liaisons dangereuses Catriona Seth, Christopher Hampton 29 Sep 2016
32 Creative Commons Director Jonathan Kent in conversation with Fiona Macintosh Theatre director Jonathan Kent discusses his work with Greek tragedies, including Medea with Diana Rigg in 1992-1994; Hecuba with Clare Higgins in 2004; and Oedipus with Ralph Fiennes in 2008 at the National Theatre. Jonathan Kent, Fiona Macintosh 11 Aug 2016
33 The Oresteia at the Globe Theatre (2015) Director, Adele Thomas, and playwright / translator, Rory Mullarkey, talk about their production of Aeschylus' Oresteia at the Globe Theatre, London in 2015 Adele Thomas, Rory Mullarkey 11 Aug 2016
34 E. M. Forster’s Tragic Interior David Scourfield, of Maynooth University, discusses E. M. Forster's relationship with Greek tragedy in the APGRD's second, annual Classics and English Lecture David Scourfield 10 Aug 2016
35 Medea, a performance history (ebook) A free to download, interactive/multimedia ebook by the APGRD, on the production history of Euripides' tragedy Medea Fiona Macintosh; Claire Kenward; Tom Wrobel 09 Aug 2016
36 Director Ian Rickson on Sophocles' Electra at the Old Vic (2014) Director Ian Rickson talks about his 2014 production of Sophocles' Electra at the Old Vic, London, starring Kristin Scott Thomas as Electra Ian Rickson 09 Aug 2016
37 Playwright Marina Carr in conversation with Fiona Macintosh Playwright Marina Carr discusses her adaptation of Euripides' Hecuba, which premiered at the RSC in 2015, and her long-standing relationship with Greek Tragedy Marina Carr, Fiona Macintosh 09 Aug 2016
38 Actor Helen McCrory discusses Medea with Edith Hall Helen McCrory talks about her title role in the acclaimed 2014 production of Euripides' Medea at the National Theatre Helen McCrory, Edith Hall 09 Aug 2016
39 Interview with Tom Stoppard Award-winning playwright Tom Stoppard talks about the role of diversity in theatre Tom Stoppard 19 Jul 2016
40 Tom Stoppard Q&A Award-winning playwright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard Q&A with Professor Dame Hermione Lee. Tom Stoppard, Hermione Lee 11 Jul 2016
41 Creative Commons Tom Stoppard Lecture Award-winning playwright Tom Stoppard delivers a public lecture Tom Stoppard 05 Jul 2016
42 Creative Commons Director and CEO of the Oxford Playhouse, Louise Chantal (Lincoln, 1987) Louise Chantal shares her love of the theatre and describes her involvement in Oxford’s cultural scene during her student days and running Oxford's famous Playhouse today. Louise Chantal 04 Dec 2015
43 Creative Commons Timon of Athens Emma Smith finishes her Approaching Shakespeare series with a lecture on the play Timon of Athens. Emma Smith 23 Jun 2015
44 Lost in Translation? Experiencing the body on stage and screen How audiences respond to the body on stage and on screen. Alexandra Greenfield, Vanessa Lee 11 Jun 2015
45 Creative Commons Love's Labour's Lost Emma Smith continues her Approaching Shakespeare series with a lecture on the play Love's Labour's Lost. Emma Smith 27 May 2015
46 Theatre and Evolution from Ibsen to Beckett An interdisciplinary discussion of Kirsten Shepherd-Barr's book Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, Michael Billington, Morten Kringlebach, Laura Marcus 20 May 2015
47 Creative Commons Romeo and Juliet This lecture on Romeo and Juliet tackles the issue of the spoiler-chorus, in an already-too-familiar play. This podcast is suitable for school and college students. Emma Smith 05 May 2015
48 Creative Commons Coriolanus This lecture takes up a detail from Shakespeare’s late Roman tragedy Coriolanus to ask about the representation of character, the use of sources and the genre of tragedy. Emma Smith 05 May 2015
49 Everything's Re-Made with Shovel and Spade: Playing Shakespeare with Simon Russell Beale Simon Russell Beale, in conversation with Libby Purves, on his personal experience of playing Shakespeare in the theatre. Simon Russell Beale, Libby Purves 13 Mar 2015
50 APGRD Lecture: Gwyneth Lewis on Clytemnestra Gwyneth Lewis on Clytemnestra Gwyneth Lewis 11 Mar 2015
51 Plays for Today? Closing symposium in which critic Michael Billington, playwright Rachel De-lahay, theatremaker Chris Goode academic and Dr Liz Tomlin discuss with David Edgar the place of the playwright in contemporary theatre. This event was filmed on 7th February 2015. David Edgar, Michael Billington, Rachel De-lahay, Liz Tomlin 05 Feb 2015
52 How Playwrights Collaborate A conversation with playwrights David Edgar, Howard Brenton and Bryony Lavery about how playwrights collaborate with directors, performers and each other. This conversation was filmed on 6th February 2015. David Edgar, Howard Brenton, Bryony Lavery 05 Feb 2015
53 How Playwrights Work A conversation with playwrights David Edgar, April de Angelis and David Greig discussing their working methods and what is (or isn’t) unique about their work. This conversation was filmed on 4th February 2015. April de Angelis, David Edgar, David Greig 05 Feb 2015
54 State of Play First lecture in which Playwright David Edgar outlines the story of new writing in postwar British theatre and the growth of the anti-writer trend since the 1990s. This lecture was filmed in Oxford on 2nd February 2015. David Edgar 05 Feb 2015
55 OxPeace 2014: Session 2a: Arts, Culture and Peace part 4 Dr Rami Mani gives a talk for the OxPeace 2014 conference session 2a; Arts, Culture and Peace Rami Mani 02 Jun 2014
56 OxPeace 2014: Session 2a: Arts, Culture and Peace part 3 Chipo Chung gives a talk for the OxPeace 2014 conference session 2a; Arts, Culture and Peace Chipo Chung 02 Jun 2014
57 Creative Commons Stephen Fry- "Put on Your Red Shoes: Performance and Destiny" Stephen Fry, the 23rd holder of the Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professorship in Contemporary Theatre gives his first lecture at the University followed by Q&A with Roger Ainsworth. (Contains strong language). Stephen Fry, Roger Ainsworth 21 Feb 2014
58 Creative Commons Early modern plays in bits and pieces Professor Tiffany Stern joins Dr Adam Smyth to discuss her current research on the materiality of the early modern play text. What happens to our thinking about plays when prologues, epilogues and songs become mobile pieces, detached from the whole? Tiffany Stern, Adam Smyth 03 Feb 2014
59 Creative Commons Acting Masterclass: "Lend me your ears" A second Masterclass on how Shakespeare spins rhetoric for the actor, with Sam Leith, journalist and writer, and author of 'You Talkin' to Me'. Students from Oxford University Drama Society will take part in the masterclass with an audience. Gregory Doran, Sam Leith 07 Jun 2013
60 Creative Commons Acting Masterclass: "Lend me your ears" A practical Masterclass with Greg Doran from the Royal Shakespeare Company on how Shakespeare spins rhetoric for the actor, with Sam Leith, journalist and writer, and author of 'You Talkin' to Me'. Students from Oxford University Drama Society take part. Gregory Doran, Sam Leith 07 Jun 2013
61 Creative Commons Acting Masterclass: 'Pyramus, you begin' A practical Masterclass with Greg Doran from the Royal Shakespeare Company looking at what clues Shakespeare puts into the verse for the actor. Students from Oxford University Drama Society rehearse Romeo and Juliet in front of an audience. Gregory Doran 07 Jun 2013
62 Creative Commons Acting Masterclass: 'Pyramus, you begin' A practical Masterclass looking at what clues Shakespeare puts into the verse for the actor. Students from Oxford University Drama Society will take part in the masterclass with an audience. Gregory Doran 07 Jun 2013
63 On Stage and Screen: Defining Moments in Entertainment Since 1962 As St Catherine's was being built, in July 1962, the Telstar satellite was making history as the first to relay television pictures through space. A year later, Mary Whitehouse would launch her 'Clean Up TV' campaign. Michael Billington, Sara Ramsden, Libby Purves, Thelma Holt 09 Oct 2012
64 Creative Commons Oscar Wilde's Women Sophie Duncan introduces Oscar Wilde by setting him in an accurate historical context. Sophie Duncan 19 Sep 2012
65 Creative Commons The language of Shakespeare Actors and the director talk about how they have approached and worked with their student production of the Shakespeare play - Two Gentlemen of Verona. They discuss some of the challenges of the text and what they have done to overcome these. Kate O'Connor 23 Aug 2012
66 Creative Commons Understanding Shakespeare The actor Nick Lyons talks about the challenge of the language barrier and how he dealt with it for his role in the student production of the Shakespeare play Two Gentlemen of Verona. Nick Lyons 23 Aug 2012
67 Creative Commons Two Gentlemen of Verona: The view from the Director The director talks about how she adapted the script and directed the student Shakespeare production of Two Gentlemen of Verona. She describes what makes the play great, and discusses issues related to editing and direction. Kate O'Connor 23 Aug 2012
68 Creative Commons The Tempest: For you am I this patient log-man The director and actors talk about the log-scene in The Tempest and how they interpret and perform it. Includes scenes from rehearsals and performance. Archie Cornish, Dylan Townley 23 Aug 2012
69 Creative Commons The Tempest: Our revels now are ended The famous Shakespeare scene from The Tempest, performed by actors from an Oxford student drama society. Dylan Townley 23 Aug 2012
70 Creative Commons The Tempest - Our revels now are ended: Conveying Shakespeare's meaning The actor Dylan Townley talks about the language of Shakespeare. He describes how understanding and using the meter can help an actor or reader to bring out the poetry in a text. Includes a scene from The Tempest. Dylan Townley 23 Aug 2012
71 Creative Commons The Tempest: Prospero Actor Dylan Townley talks with director Archie Cornish about the character Prospero. They describe how they have chosen to portray him in this Oxford student performance of The Tempest, and discuss on what they base their interpretation. Archie Cornish, Dylan Townley 23 Aug 2012
72 Creative Commons The Tempest: Direction and interpretation Director Archie Cornish and actor Dylan Townley - Prospero - talk about adapting, directing and performing a student Shakespeare production of The Tempest. Archie Cornish, Dylan Townley 23 Aug 2012
73 Creative Commons Teaching Shakespeare in Schools A teacher talks about how she teaches Shakespeare in school, using video clips and references from contemporary culture to get the students to understand, relate to, and engage with the text. Joyti Chandegra 23 Aug 2012
74 Creative Commons The Tempest - Our revels now are ended: Bringing a scene to Life The director Archie Cornish, and actor Dylan Townley, introduce the Revel speech in The Tempest. They also discuss the context in which it appears. Archie Cornish, Dylan Townley 22 Aug 2012
75 Creative Commons Shakespeare and the Stage Professor Tiffany Stern gives a short talk on William Shakespeare and how his plays were performed in Elizabethan England. Tiffany Stern 22 Aug 2012
76 Creative Commons Shakespeare and Voice Linda Gates, Professor of Voice at Northwestern University (USA) discusses how Shakespeare's poetry and plays lend themselves to vocal performance by discussing how breath can be used to 'punctuate the thought'. Linda Gates 01 Aug 2012
77 Creative Commons Shakespeare and Voice Linda Gates, Professor of Voice at Northwestern University (USA) discusses how Shakespeare's poetry and plays lend themselves to vocal performance by discussing how breath can be used to 'punctuate the thought'. Linda Gates 01 Aug 2012
78 Vanessa Redgrave: Speak What We Feel Not What We Ought To Say - (Part 2.2) Antony and Cleopatra Vanessa Redgrave (Humanitas Visiting Professor in Drama 2011-2012) delivers the second of two lectures focused on the theme of Theatre and Politics. Vanessa Redgrave 24 Apr 2012
79 Vanessa Redgrave: Speak What We Feel Not What We Ought To Say - (Part 2.1) Antony and Cleopatra Vanessa Redgrave (Humanitas Visiting Professor in Drama 2011-2012) delivers the second of two lectures focused on the theme of Theatre and Politics. Vanessa Redgrave 24 Apr 2012
80 Vanessa Redgrave: Speak What We Feel Not What We Ought To Say - (Part 1.2) King Lear - Panel Discussion Panel discussion following Vanessa Redgrave's first lecture focused on the theme of Theatre and Politics. Vanessa Redgrave, Carlo Nero, Fred Harrison, Robert Holtom 24 Apr 2012
81 Vanessa Redgrave: Speak What We Feel Not What We Ought To Say - (Part 1.1) King Lear Vanessa Redgrave (Humanitas Visiting Professor in Drama 2011-2012) delivers the first of two lectures focused on the theme of Theatre and Politics. Vanessa Redgrave 24 Apr 2012
82 Creative Commons Shakespeare and the Stage Professor Tiffany Stern gives a talk on William Shakespeare and how his plays were performed in Elizabethan England. Tiffany Stern 07 Feb 2012
83 Creative Commons The life and death of King Richard the Second. ePub version of text The life and death of King Richard the Second. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 01 Nov 2011
84 Creative Commons Richard II Lecture eight in the Approaching Shakespeare series asks the question that structures Richard II: does the play suggest Henry Bolingbroke's overthrow of the king was justified? Emma Smith 01 Nov 2011
85 Creative Commons Who Translates and for Whom? Fourth part of the What is Translation Podcast series. In this part, the question of who is best placed to translate classic texts; academics, poets, dramatists and who is best placed to receive the translation, students, scholars or the general public. Oliver Taplin, Lorna Hardwick 27 Jul 2010
86 Creative Commons Does Tragedy Teach? Third dialogue on the nature of tragedy where they talk about whether tragic theatre teaches people, and if it does, how and what does it teach? Oliver Taplin, Joshua Billings 01 Mar 2010
87 Creative Commons What does Tragedy do for People? A discussion of what the use of tragedy is, and whether the emotional experience of tragic theatre is simply a passing thrill or a vital part of life. Oliver Taplin, Joshua Billings 01 Mar 2010
88 Creative Commons Defining Tragedy First dialogue between Oliver Taplin and Joshua Billings on tragedy: they discuss what 'tragedy' means, from its origins in Greek culture to philosophical notions of what tragedy and tragic drama are. Oliver Taplin, Joshua Billings 01 Mar 2010
89 Oliver Taplin on Classics Professor Oliver Taplin, an authority on classics and the performance of ancient drama, talks about the subject and his research. Oliver Taplin, Oliver Lewis 22 Apr 2009
90 Creative Commons Oliver Taplin on Classics Professor Oliver Taplin, an authority on classics and the performance of ancient drama, talks about the subject and his research. Oliver Taplin, Oliver Lewis 12 Sep 2008