When you do something (like talk about Shakespeare) for 20 years, you realize that over time, you’ve really explored all the options. Write a book? Did it, twice. Make an app? Did it, twice (though neither is still available). Sell merchandise? Check. Start a Shakespeare podcast … hmmmm. Haven’t started a podcast yet.
Enter Bardfilm, aka Keith. I met Keith here on the blog back in 2008, and we talk online nearly every day. Whenever I have a new idea for a project, he’s one of my staunchest supporters. He knows I lost my job recently and have time on my hands. This time, he’s the one who said, “Hey, wanna make a podcast?”
Infinite Variety: The Shakespeare Rewatch Podcast
Podcasts need structure. Nobody will listen to us geek out over Shakespeare for an hour a week. Besides, that’s what the blog and social media are for. Bardfilm asked if I was familiar with how “rewatch” podcasts work. In a rewatch podcast, the hosts agree on a show they’ve both seen, and then they independently watch it again, taking notes on what is most interesting to them. Then, they get back together and walk through the show, comparing notes and talking about the parts they find most interesting.
That’s where the “infinite variety” comes in because we’re not just talking about Shakespeare adaptations; we’re talking about anything and everything inspired by Shakespeare.
Slings & Arrows Season 1 Episode 1
For our inaugural episode, we’ve chosen the Canadian TV show Slings & Arrows, which many Shakespeare geeks have undoubtedly seen. Over three seasons, it told the story of a theatre troop struggling to balance “theatre as art” and “theater as business.” Each season focuses on a particular Shakespeare play (season one being Hamlet), but with plenty of other references galore.
By choosing a highly regarded TV show first, we can learn the ropes of podcasting and get our feet under ourselves about what we will make here. Of course, there are some bugs to work out. For starters, I’m not proud of the audio in this first one, but that’s easily remedied.
We mostly want your input, our loyal readers (turned listeners). What do you want us to talk about? Movies, or tv shows? Lots of Shakespeare or only hints of inspiration? As we get going, we’ll start taking listener questions and address them directly on the show.
But to do that, we need subscribers! If I set us up correctly, our new podcast should be available on all the major services – Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, PocketCasts, iHeartRadio. If I’ve missed the one you use, let me know and I’ll see if can get us added.
Looking on the app store, app not found. Help!
Hi Laura! I’m going to assume that you’re on an iPhone, maybe? There is a dedicated Podcasts app you’ll want to use. I don’t know if that’s automatically installed on all phones or you have to use the App Store to get that, first.
The podcast is also available on Spotify, if you have that. Hope that helps! Thanks for the support.