To Be Or Not To Be: Shakespeare Unlocked

The Strange History of a Radical Speech (Part 1)

In this episode, we uncover the radical roots of Hamlet’s soliloquy by tracing how it sounded in the mouths of the famous actors who played the role. For four centuries, Shakespeare has been fought over - is he for the elite or for everyone? It's a battle which has seen ordinary people sent to jail just for performing Shakespeare - and it's a cultural conflict which continues today. This is the first part of a series looking at the revolutionary history of "To be or not to be". With Ben and David Crystal, Sarah Dustagheer, Sonia Massai, David Roberts, Peter Holland, Leslie Ritchie, Jed Wentz and Paul Willenbrock. Readings by Kris Dyer, Emma Fielding, Simon Paisley Day

The Pepys musical version: Paul Willenbrock, bass; Marco Horvat, baroque guitar; sound, Hamish Hossain; montage, Rebecca Young. Paul Willenbrock's website : sing-op-english.com

For more information on the podcast and how you can help theatres and actors during the COVID lockdown crisis: http://www.fleetingyearfilms.com/podcast.html#

 

The Verse Doctors

In this episode, we speak to the “verse doctors”, experts on the hidden rhythms of Hamlet's famous soliloquy, who uncover how Shakespeare laid a trail of subtle clues to direct today’s actors, four centuries after his death. With Giles Taylor, Philip Bird, Sarah Case, Giles Block, Joseph Millson and Tess Dignan. The speech readings are by Emma Fielding and Simon Paisley Day. This is an amended version of an episode previously uploaded. For more information on the podcast and how you can help theatres and actors during the COVID lockdown crisis: http://www.fleetingyearfilms.com/podcast.html#

What’s It All About?

In this episode, we ask the BIG questions - what does "To Be Or Not To Be" mean? Is there an answer? And can we relate Hamlet's famous soliloquy to the way we live our own lives? With Ewan Fernie, Emma Smith, Paul Kottman, Joshua Landy and Christie Carson. The speech readings are by Emma Fielding and Simon Paisley Day. For more information on the podcast and how you can help theatres and actors during the COVID lockdown crisis: http://www.fleetingyearfilms.com/podcast.html#

Black Lives Matter

In this episode, we follow a remarkable Black Lives Matter themed production which took Hamlet into New York's maximum security prisons, women's refuges and homeless shelters, and found new resonance and relevance in drama's most famous speech. With Chukwudi Iwuji, Patricia McGregor, Kristolyn Lloyd and Professor James Shapiro. The speech readings are by Emma Fielding and Simon Paisley Day. For more information on the podcast and how you can help theatres and actors during the COVID crisis: http://www.fleetingyearfilms.com/podcast.html#

The Time Machine

What would it have been like to be an audience member at the very first performance of Hamlet, four centuries ago? And what might the extraordinary playing conditions of Shakespeare’s day have meant for Hamlet’s famous soliloquy? With Tiffany Stern, Sir Mark Rylance, Joseph Millson, Simon Palfrey, Ralph Alan Cohen, Dominic Dromgoole and John Harrell. The speech readings are by Emma Fielding and Simon Paisley Day. For more information on the podcast and how you can help theatres and actors during the COVID crisis: http://www.fleetingyearfilms.com/podcast.html#

Speaking The Speech

In the first episode of To Be Or Not To Be, we ask some of our leading actors who've played Hamlet - how did they approach the most famous lines in all of English drama? And how did they handle the notorious psychological and emotional pressures of the role? With Adrian Lester, Samuel West, Jonathan Slinger, Nicole Cooper, Dominic Dromgoole, Joseph Millson, Michael Benz, Isabella Marshall and Jonathan Broadbent. The speech readings were by Emma Fielding and Simon Paisley Day. Please visit the podcast website for more information on the podcast and how you can help theatres and actors during the COVID crisis: http://www.fleetingyearfilms.com/podcast.html#