Slices of Shakespeare
Join Professor Andy Lawrence to explore famous lines and phrases from Shakespeare.Each episode Andy will take a quote, get some acting chums together, and perform the scene that the quote comes from. Before the scene, he will explain the context so we understand what we are listening to, and afterwards he will bring along a friendly pundit or actor to talk about the scene, the play, and Shakespeare more generally.In his day job, Andy is the Regius Professor of Astronomy, but he has always loved Shakespeare. He is keen to share the love, but also to get some...
The Fault, dear Brutus, is not in our Stars
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In this episode we explore one of Andy's favourite quotes. It sounds like it's about Astronomy - but its not. Its about seizing control of your own destiny. The quote is from Julius Caesar, and is spoken by Cassius, who is scornful of Caesar, and is trying to persuade Brutus to join the conspirators who will assassinate him. It's gripping stuff and full of themes that resonate today. To explore these themes, Andy is joined by Director and...
The World's Mine Oyster
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In this opening episode we look at a familiar everyday phrase. We think we know what it means today - but it's not what Shakespeare meant when he wrote it! The quote is from The Merry Wives of Windsor, a play about the infamous rogue Falstaff getting his come-uppance. Joining Andy to chat about about the play, and how this quote reversed its meaning, is the well known Shakespeare scholar Dr Emma Smith, from the University of Oxford...
Welcome to Slices of Shakespeare
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In this short introduction Andy explains his love of Shakespeare, and his plan for this podcast - half hour episodes introducing a famous quote, performing a short scene, and exploring the quote, the scene and the play with a guest. Less than a whole play, but more than just fragment - a slice of Shakespeare.
The artwork shows the portrait of Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout, from the title page of the First Folio, 1623. Image from wikimedia...
Trailer: Slices of Shakespeare
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A very short trailer for the podcast. Andy explains that his day job is exploring the Universe but his passion is for Shakespeare. He will bring together other lovers of Shakespeare and explore famous quotes, with performance, explanation, and conversation.
Background image: Andromeda Nebula, by Mark Phillips
Shakespeare image: Chandos Portrait, Wikimedia Commons
Andy image: portrait by Max Alexander
