That Shakespeare Life

Mar 10 2025 209 ep. 32 mins 979

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Hosted by Cassidy Cash, That Shakespeare Life takes you behind the curtain and into the real life of William Shakespeare. Get bonus episodes on Patreon
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Code Breaking Mary Queen of Scots Lost Cipher Letters

Mar 10 2025 34 mins

In As You Like It, Orlando says “Which I take to be either a fool or a cipher.” that’s one of a dozen references to ciphers in Shakespeare’s plays, which reflects the place of ciphers as a common way to keep secrets, particularly among the elite, for Shakespeare’s lifetime. One of the most famous ciphers for Shakespeare’s lifetime was written between 1578 and 1584,

Last Will and Testaments

Mar 03 2025 53 mins

A “Last Will and Testament” is a document listing out the instructions for how to handle your remaining worldly goods after your death. It is an opportunity for the living to share their wishes from beyond the grave. In As You Like It, Orlando mentions this practice by saying “...give me the poor allottery my father left me by testament; with that I will go buy my fortunes.�

Funerals, Memorials, and Burials

Feb 24 2025 52 mins

With all the death in Shakespeare’s works, you may not be shocked that the word “Funeral” comes up in Shakespeare’s plays over 20 times, but what is surprising is that funeral ceremonies are used by Shakespeare in multiple plays to serve a specific role, almost a character in and of themselves for how they impact the plot. Most notably, and my apologies here for any spoiler

The Curtain Theater Excavation

Feb 17 2025 24 mins

The Curtain Theatre was built in 1577 in a section of London called Shoreditch. Constructed only about 200 yards, or 600 feet, away from The Theater, which is the building James and Richard Burbage built as the first purpose built theater in London. For context, this distance about half a city block in Manhattan, and little less than 1 city block in Chicago. In 1585, the Burbages t

Food Preservation in the 16-17th Century

Feb 10 2025 42 mins

In Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona, Proteus says “Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons.” Proteus is speaking metaphorically here, but the phrase refers to the relationship between animals raised in a field, and then processed for food to be stored away in a cache that can be drawed upon for consuming later. Stephano, in the Tempest, shares the

Candlemas, Traditions, and Hampton Court Palace

Feb 03 2025 44 mins

William Shakespeare never mentions the celebration of Candlemas by name in his works, but we know Shakespeare was involved in the celebration of Candlemas in 1602 from a diary entry written by a man named John Manningham, who wrote about attending a performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, on February 2 of that year, the traditional Feast Day of Candlemas.This 1602 performance

Hue and Cry

Jan 27 2025 26 mins

Shakespeare uses the phrase, “Hue and cry” twice in his plays. Once in Henry IV Part 1and again inMerry Wives of Windsor. In the Middle Ages, this phrase represented acivilian peacekeeping effort that remained officially on the books in England until the19thcentury. Amounting, on an extremely basic level, to what those in the US mayrecognize as a “citizen’s arrest,” hue a

Henry IV, Henry V, and King Richard II

Jan 20 2025 34 mins

The spectacular downfall of King Richard II, followed by the successors Henry IV and then Henry V, are famously depicted in Shakespeare’s plays. The Life and Death of King Richard II is a prequel to what’s known as Shakespeare’s Henriad plays, or the Henry Plays, consisting of Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV part 2, and Henry V. Richard II is believed to have been written around 15

Golf for the 16th Century: Explore Clubs, Gear, and Courses

Jan 13 2025 30 mins

Shakespeare may not mention the word “golf” in his plays, and in exploring history, it seems that the game was a little bit obscure, certainly not something played widely, but nevertheless it was present for Shakespeare’s lifetime, with some major moments for golf history overlapping with the life of William ShakespeareFor example, it was England’s King James I, patron of S

Epiphany Celebrations and Customs for the 16-17th Century

Jan 06 2025 21 mins

January 6 is the day that many celebrate a holiday called Epiphany, the first manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God to the Gentiles, which happened through the visit of the Magi, or the Three Kings, who visited Jesus and brought him the now famous gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrr. The holiday was celebrated in Shakespeare’s lifetime, but just like today when the holi