Awkward Shakespeare

Awkward Shakespeare

vickispreadbury

Episodes 30
Avg. Duration 37m
Activity Dormant
Since Oct 2024
Latest Episode May 2025

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Hosting
feed.podbean.com

About This Podcast

Want to understand more about Shakespeare’s plays but not into boring lectures on how to pass a GCSE in English literature? Awkward Shakespeare is a scene by scene guide to some of Shakespeare’s greatest works, an in-depth but lighthearted exploration of the stories and language behind the plays. Every episode deals with a single scene, so it’s really easy to navigate, and we’ll be looking at key characters and key concepts along the way.

Explore Statistics

Recent Episodes

S1E30 Macbeth Episode 29 - This dead butcher and his fiend-like queen

May 11, 2025 38m

Macbeth Act 5 Scene 9 Absolutely everything is resolved. Macbeth is dead, Macduff is avenged, Malcolm is king. It's PURE coincidence that this is just how things were at the start of the play. No…

S1E29 Macbeth Episode 28 - Untimely ripped

May 08, 2025 38m

Macbeth Act 5 Scene 8 In which we find out, in possibly the most controversial loophole in literary history, that being born by Caesarean means you were not "of woman born". Macduff takes his…

S1E28 Macbeth Episode 27 - Little is to do

May 01, 2025 31m

Macbeth Act 5 Scene 6 and Act 5 Scene 7 Surprise! It's not a moving wood, it's Malcolm's army. The two sides finally clash, the castle is somewhat easily surrendered, and there's one big scene for…

S1E27 Macbeth Episode 26 - The Queen, my lord, is dead

Apr 25, 2025 1h 8m

Macbeth Act 5 Scenes 4 and 5 In which the witches' prophecy about Great Birnam Wood unexpectedly comes true, Lady Macbeth dies, and Macbeth realises trusting supernatural entities was a really bad…

Macbeth Episode 25 - Hang those who talk of fear

Apr 14, 2025 36m

Macbeth Act 5 Scene 3. Macbeth is back and he's definitely not afraid. As he says (repeatedly) what's he got to be afraid of? Still, best to get that terrified looking servant to go away, just in…

S1E25 Macbeth Episode 24 - The English power is near

Apr 02, 2025 34m

Macbeth Act 5 Scene 2 A group of thanes are on their way to Birnam Wood, where they hope to meet Malcolm, Macduff and their army. Meanwhile "the tyrant", they tell us, is struggling to maintain his…

S1E24 Macbeth Episode 23 - Out, damned spot!

Mar 28, 2025 49m

Macbeth Act 5 Scene 1 In which we see Lady Macbeth begin to disintegrate mentally as she finally begins to process the impact of her crimes. Turns out a little water does not in fact cleanse you of…

S1E23 Macbeth Episode 22 - Welcome and unwelcome things

Mar 18, 2025 1h 6m

Macbeth Act 4 Scene 3  A scene even critics and academics describe as dull. Malcolm is greedy, lustful and entirely unfit to rule. Or is he? Secrets, lies, and masculinity takes, and poor Macduff…

S1E22 Macbeth Episode 21 - Was my father a traitor?

Mar 06, 2025 38m

Macbeth Act 4 Scene 2 The one where Macduff's son is all cute and witty until (like a lot of other characters in this play) he's brutally murdered on Macbeth's orders. A useful reminder - as if you…

S1E21 Macbeth Episode 20 - Double double, toil and trouble (part 2)

Feb 24, 2025 47m

Macbeth Act 4 Scene 1 (part 2) More detail on Macbeth and his second visit to the witches, in which I say FAR too much about this scene. But in my defence, there's a lot to say.

S1E20 Macbeth Episode 19 - Double double, toil and trouble (part1)

Feb 10, 2025 45m

Macbeth Act 4 Scene 1 May contain as many as six witches. Spells are brewed and apparitions appear; Macbeth hears good and bad news.  (Continued in episode 20)

S1E19 Macbeth Episode 18 - Our suffering country

Feb 03, 2025 26m

Macbeth Act 3 Scene 6 Lennox chats to a lord and reveals his concerns about Macbeth's reign. We're not really sure whose side he's on. Maybe he isn't either.

S1E18 Macbeth Episode 17 - Why how now Hecate?

Jan 29, 2025 29m

Macbeth Act 3 Scene 5 Did Shakespeare write this? Probably not. But I can talk about it anyway. An episode in which Hecate tells off the witches and (certainly at some points in performance history)…

S1E17 Macbeth Episode 16 - Blood will have blood

Jan 24, 2025 1h 7m

Macbeth Act 3 Scene 4 In which Macbeth sees a ghost and ruins his own dinner party.

S1E16 Macbeth Episode 15 - Themes (1)

Jan 16, 2025 58m

Macbeth Themes A brief break from the story, and a look at the themes we have encountered so far in the play.

S1E15 Macbeth Episode 14 - Fly fly fly!

Jan 14, 2025 25m

Macbeth Act 3 Scene 3 The two murderers, with extra bonus third murderer, do some murdering. Bye bye Banquo; fly fly Fleance. I also forget that Macbeth murdered the two guards as well. Whoops.

S1E14 Macbeth Episode 13 - What's Done is Done

Jan 13, 2025 37m

Macbeth Act 3 Scene 2 The Macbeth's are king and queen but neither is feeling particularly secure about it, and cracks are starting to show in their partnership.

S1E13 Macbeth Episode 12 - Enter Two Murderers

Dec 03, 2024 55m

Macbeth Act 3 Scene 1 In which Macbeth insists Banquo make an effort to attend a meal which he knows full well he won't be able to make, due to his imminent demise. Note to self: don't ever go to…

S1E12 Macbeth Episode 11 - How Goes the World?

Nov 26, 2024 24m

Macbeth Act 2 Scene 4 A really old guy has never seen a night so bad. The heavens are rebelling at Macbeth's act. An owl killed a falcon, Duncan's horses ate each other... Could there be any better…

S1E11 Macbeth Episode 10 - 'Twas a rough night

Nov 21, 2024 55m

Macbeth Act 2 Scene 3 Knock knock. Who's there? A hungover porter who wants to make jokes about alcohol-induced impotence. Oh, and everyone finds out Duncan is dead. Grab yourself a biscuit before…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Awkward Shakespeare have?

Awkward Shakespeare has published 30 episodes since October 2024, covering topics in Arts, Education.

Is Awkward Shakespeare still active?

Awkward Shakespeare is currently dormant with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 37m.

Similar Podcasts