Reading Early Plays (REP)
@playsrep.bsky.social
REP meets regularly online to read & explore drama written before the closure of the London theatres in 1642. Currently reading through the repertoire of The King’s Men company. Each play is introduced by Dr Martin Wiggins.
www.readingearlyplays.com
www.readingearlyplays.com
In REP this week:
Monday - our Palaeography group will transcribe rates of pay for Tudor carpenters
Tuesday- the Playmakers will irked to discover that the word “anonymity” isn’t recorded before 1695
Wednesday - we read The Widow, which probably isn’t written by two of the people mentioned here.
Monday - our Palaeography group will transcribe rates of pay for Tudor carpenters
Tuesday- the Playmakers will irked to discover that the word “anonymity” isn’t recorded before 1695
Wednesday - we read The Widow, which probably isn’t written by two of the people mentioned here.
January 19, 2026 at 10:38 AM
In REP this week:
Monday - our Palaeography group will transcribe rates of pay for Tudor carpenters
Tuesday- the Playmakers will irked to discover that the word “anonymity” isn’t recorded before 1695
Wednesday - we read The Widow, which probably isn’t written by two of the people mentioned here.
Monday - our Palaeography group will transcribe rates of pay for Tudor carpenters
Tuesday- the Playmakers will irked to discover that the word “anonymity” isn’t recorded before 1695
Wednesday - we read The Widow, which probably isn’t written by two of the people mentioned here.
In REP this week:
Monday: our palaeography group will continue to work on documents of the Tudor Revels Office.
Tuesday: our Playmakers mind their “yous” & “thous” whilst writing more scenes for The Cunning Florentines.
Wednesday: we read Love’s Cure, as performed by the King’s Men in 1613.
Monday: our palaeography group will continue to work on documents of the Tudor Revels Office.
Tuesday: our Playmakers mind their “yous” & “thous” whilst writing more scenes for The Cunning Florentines.
Wednesday: we read Love’s Cure, as performed by the King’s Men in 1613.
January 11, 2026 at 4:10 PM
In REP this week:
Monday: our palaeography group will continue to work on documents of the Tudor Revels Office.
Tuesday: our Playmakers mind their “yous” & “thous” whilst writing more scenes for The Cunning Florentines.
Wednesday: we read Love’s Cure, as performed by the King’s Men in 1613.
Monday: our palaeography group will continue to work on documents of the Tudor Revels Office.
Tuesday: our Playmakers mind their “yous” & “thous” whilst writing more scenes for The Cunning Florentines.
Wednesday: we read Love’s Cure, as performed by the King’s Men in 1613.
Reposted by Reading Early Plays (REP)
REP returns to action this week.
Monday: our palaeography group continues to work on documents of the Tudor Revels Office.
Tuesday: our Playmakers will write more scenes for a brand new play from 1616, “The Cunning Florentines”.
Wednesday: we read the Somerset Wedding Masques of 1613/14.
Monday: our palaeography group continues to work on documents of the Tudor Revels Office.
Tuesday: our Playmakers will write more scenes for a brand new play from 1616, “The Cunning Florentines”.
Wednesday: we read the Somerset Wedding Masques of 1613/14.
January 4, 2026 at 11:12 PM
REP returns to action this week.
Monday: our palaeography group continues to work on documents of the Tudor Revels Office.
Tuesday: our Playmakers will write more scenes for a brand new play from 1616, “The Cunning Florentines”.
Wednesday: we read the Somerset Wedding Masques of 1613/14.
Monday: our palaeography group continues to work on documents of the Tudor Revels Office.
Tuesday: our Playmakers will write more scenes for a brand new play from 1616, “The Cunning Florentines”.
Wednesday: we read the Somerset Wedding Masques of 1613/14.
REP returns to action this week.
Monday: our palaeography group continues to work on documents of the Tudor Revels Office.
Tuesday: our Playmakers will write more scenes for a brand new play from 1616, “The Cunning Florentines”.
Wednesday: we read the Somerset Wedding Masques of 1613/14.
Monday: our palaeography group continues to work on documents of the Tudor Revels Office.
Tuesday: our Playmakers will write more scenes for a brand new play from 1616, “The Cunning Florentines”.
Wednesday: we read the Somerset Wedding Masques of 1613/14.
January 4, 2026 at 11:12 PM
REP returns to action this week.
Monday: our palaeography group continues to work on documents of the Tudor Revels Office.
Tuesday: our Playmakers will write more scenes for a brand new play from 1616, “The Cunning Florentines”.
Wednesday: we read the Somerset Wedding Masques of 1613/14.
Monday: our palaeography group continues to work on documents of the Tudor Revels Office.
Tuesday: our Playmakers will write more scenes for a brand new play from 1616, “The Cunning Florentines”.
Wednesday: we read the Somerset Wedding Masques of 1613/14.
No REP reading tonight, as we begin a Christmas break.
On January 7th we return with another season of King’s Men’s plays, starting in 1613, and including Court Masques, Witches, Widows, Mad Lovers, plus a revival of Macbeth as the only extant sign of the company’s former writer in residence.
On January 7th we return with another season of King’s Men’s plays, starting in 1613, and including Court Masques, Witches, Widows, Mad Lovers, plus a revival of Macbeth as the only extant sign of the company’s former writer in residence.
December 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
No REP reading tonight, as we begin a Christmas break.
On January 7th we return with another season of King’s Men’s plays, starting in 1613, and including Court Masques, Witches, Widows, Mad Lovers, plus a revival of Macbeth as the only extant sign of the company’s former writer in residence.
On January 7th we return with another season of King’s Men’s plays, starting in 1613, and including Court Masques, Witches, Widows, Mad Lovers, plus a revival of Macbeth as the only extant sign of the company’s former writer in residence.
Tonight in REP we read Bonduca, a British tragedy by John Fletcher, performed by The King’s Men in 1614.
December 10, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Tonight in REP we read Bonduca, a British tragedy by John Fletcher, performed by The King’s Men in 1614.
A Poet for a speech.
It's 1607 and the Royal Family have invited themselves to your hall. Who are you gonna call? Big Ben, that's who.
December 9, 2025 at 1:54 PM
A Poet for a speech.
“Pray thee, why dost thou wrap thy poison'd pills / In gold and sugar?”
- tonight in REP we read John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi, as performed by the King’s Men in 1613.
- tonight in REP we read John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi, as performed by the King’s Men in 1613.
November 26, 2025 at 7:13 AM
“Pray thee, why dost thou wrap thy poison'd pills / In gold and sugar?”
- tonight in REP we read John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi, as performed by the King’s Men in 1613.
- tonight in REP we read John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi, as performed by the King’s Men in 1613.
- of interest to @playsrep.bsky.social #palaeography group —->
✍ Introducing ✍
Sharpie, a letterform recognition game for beginner #EarlyModern #palaeography
gjhilton.github.io/Sharpie/
AKA What I Did Over Reading Week.
#skystorians I’d be so grateful if you had time to share or take a look and tell me what sucks and needs fixing.
Love g 🗃️
Sharpie, a letterform recognition game for beginner #EarlyModern #palaeography
gjhilton.github.io/Sharpie/
AKA What I Did Over Reading Week.
#skystorians I’d be so grateful if you had time to share or take a look and tell me what sucks and needs fixing.
Love g 🗃️
Sharpie
Sharpie, a letterform recognition game for apprentice Early Modern palaeographers
gjhilton.github.io
November 13, 2025 at 8:19 PM
- of interest to @playsrep.bsky.social #palaeography group —->
Reposted by Reading Early Plays (REP)
Stars and Statues Made Human, Olympian Knights, Princes of Virginia!
This Wednesday in REP we read three masques for the Lady Elizabeth’s Wedding in 1613.
- written by Chapman & Beaumont, designs by Inigo Jones, music by Johnson, Coprario & Confesse
No Farthingales May Be Worn
This Wednesday in REP we read three masques for the Lady Elizabeth’s Wedding in 1613.
- written by Chapman & Beaumont, designs by Inigo Jones, music by Johnson, Coprario & Confesse
No Farthingales May Be Worn
November 4, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Stars and Statues Made Human, Olympian Knights, Princes of Virginia!
This Wednesday in REP we read three masques for the Lady Elizabeth’s Wedding in 1613.
- written by Chapman & Beaumont, designs by Inigo Jones, music by Johnson, Coprario & Confesse
No Farthingales May Be Worn
This Wednesday in REP we read three masques for the Lady Elizabeth’s Wedding in 1613.
- written by Chapman & Beaumont, designs by Inigo Jones, music by Johnson, Coprario & Confesse
No Farthingales May Be Worn
Stars and Statues Made Human, Olympian Knights, Princes of Virginia!
This Wednesday in REP we read three masques for the Lady Elizabeth’s Wedding in 1613.
- written by Chapman & Beaumont, designs by Inigo Jones, music by Johnson, Coprario & Confesse
No Farthingales May Be Worn
This Wednesday in REP we read three masques for the Lady Elizabeth’s Wedding in 1613.
- written by Chapman & Beaumont, designs by Inigo Jones, music by Johnson, Coprario & Confesse
No Farthingales May Be Worn
November 4, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Stars and Statues Made Human, Olympian Knights, Princes of Virginia!
This Wednesday in REP we read three masques for the Lady Elizabeth’s Wedding in 1613.
- written by Chapman & Beaumont, designs by Inigo Jones, music by Johnson, Coprario & Confesse
No Farthingales May Be Worn
This Wednesday in REP we read three masques for the Lady Elizabeth’s Wedding in 1613.
- written by Chapman & Beaumont, designs by Inigo Jones, music by Johnson, Coprario & Confesse
No Farthingales May Be Worn
“Had I plantation of this isle, my lord … And were the king on’t, what would I do?”
- Tonight in REP we will have an AGM at 7pm, followed by a reading of The Tempest to mark its 1612/13 revival by The Kings’ Men.
- Tonight in REP we will have an AGM at 7pm, followed by a reading of The Tempest to mark its 1612/13 revival by The Kings’ Men.
October 29, 2025 at 11:12 AM
“Had I plantation of this isle, my lord … And were the king on’t, what would I do?”
- Tonight in REP we will have an AGM at 7pm, followed by a reading of The Tempest to mark its 1612/13 revival by The Kings’ Men.
- Tonight in REP we will have an AGM at 7pm, followed by a reading of The Tempest to mark its 1612/13 revival by The Kings’ Men.
Reposted by Reading Early Plays (REP)
The Shakespeare Institute Players are currently in China, touring English-translated extracts from The Peony Pavilion, a great classic written by #TangXianzu, #Shakespeare's Chinese contemporary! What an experience.
October 27, 2025 at 11:02 PM
The Shakespeare Institute Players are currently in China, touring English-translated extracts from The Peony Pavilion, a great classic written by #TangXianzu, #Shakespeare's Chinese contemporary! What an experience.
Tonight we read The Maid's Tragedy by Beaumont and Fletcher (marking its revival by The King’s Men in 1612/13)
- no difficulties finding a text, as we will be reading from group leader Martin Wiggins’ own edition of the play.
- no difficulties finding a text, as we will be reading from group leader Martin Wiggins’ own edition of the play.
October 22, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Tonight we read The Maid's Tragedy by Beaumont and Fletcher (marking its revival by The King’s Men in 1612/13)
- no difficulties finding a text, as we will be reading from group leader Martin Wiggins’ own edition of the play.
- no difficulties finding a text, as we will be reading from group leader Martin Wiggins’ own edition of the play.
We hope Princess Elizabeth & Frederick V turned up on time for the King’s Men 1613 revival of Othello, performed in celebration of their wedding (we know; not a great wedding play!)
If they wanted to attend REP’s reading of the play they’d need to be there at 7pm not 7.30 (it’s a long play).
If they wanted to attend REP’s reading of the play they’d need to be there at 7pm not 7.30 (it’s a long play).
October 15, 2025 at 7:33 AM
We hope Princess Elizabeth & Frederick V turned up on time for the King’s Men 1613 revival of Othello, performed in celebration of their wedding (we know; not a great wedding play!)
If they wanted to attend REP’s reading of the play they’d need to be there at 7pm not 7.30 (it’s a long play).
If they wanted to attend REP’s reading of the play they’d need to be there at 7pm not 7.30 (it’s a long play).
On Wednesday, the 1612 revival of Henry IV Part Two will follow our last week’s reading of Part One, as the King’s Men find the retiring Shakespeare still looking over their collective shoulders.
#ShakespeareSunday
#ShakespeareSunday
September 28, 2025 at 6:18 PM
On Wednesday, the 1612 revival of Henry IV Part Two will follow our last week’s reading of Part One, as the King’s Men find the retiring Shakespeare still looking over their collective shoulders.
#ShakespeareSunday
#ShakespeareSunday
This week we resume our chronological reading of the plays of the King’s Men: Shakespeare is nearly done with writing, but the company is not done with his plays. So we begin with their 1612 revival of Henry IV Part 1
#ShakespeareSunday
#ShakespeareSunday
a man with a beard is holding a piece of paper in his hand .
Alt: a man with a beard is holding a piece of paper in his hand; he looks as we imagine Shakespeare might; with his quill he seems to be conducting music
media.tenor.com
September 21, 2025 at 7:55 PM
This week we resume our chronological reading of the plays of the King’s Men: Shakespeare is nearly done with writing, but the company is not done with his plays. So we begin with their 1612 revival of Henry IV Part 1
#ShakespeareSunday
#ShakespeareSunday
The new season of REP play-readings kicks off with 1 Henry IV at 7.30 p.m. on 24 September, and will feature the King’s Men repertory of 1612-14, including The Duchess of Malfi, Valentinian and several Shakespearean revivals.
- see the full autumn schedule here:
www.readingearlyplays.com
- see the full autumn schedule here:
www.readingearlyplays.com
Welcome | Reading Early Plays
Reading Early Plays is a group that meets regularly online to explore drama written before the closure of the London theatres in 1642. We are interested in tracing the connections within groups of pla...
www.readingearlyplays.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:17 PM
The new season of REP play-readings kicks off with 1 Henry IV at 7.30 p.m. on 24 September, and will feature the King’s Men repertory of 1612-14, including The Duchess of Malfi, Valentinian and several Shakespearean revivals.
- see the full autumn schedule here:
www.readingearlyplays.com
- see the full autumn schedule here:
www.readingearlyplays.com
While our playreading sessions are on summer break our playmakers are wrestling with complex questions such as “How do you retrieve the headless corpse of a relative from a heavily guarded Venetian piazza?”
The answer, of course, involves sailors, friars, devils and The Cunning Florentines.
The answer, of course, involves sailors, friars, devils and The Cunning Florentines.
August 29, 2025 at 9:28 AM
While our playreading sessions are on summer break our playmakers are wrestling with complex questions such as “How do you retrieve the headless corpse of a relative from a heavily guarded Venetian piazza?”
The answer, of course, involves sailors, friars, devils and The Cunning Florentines.
The answer, of course, involves sailors, friars, devils and The Cunning Florentines.
“The soliloquies were rather ingeniously achieved by allowing the actor to smoke his pipe silently, while a low voice whispered his thoughts.”
- Julius Caesar in modern dress on British television in 1938.
- Julius Caesar in modern dress on British television in 1938.
OTD in early British television
The evening schedule of Sunday 24 July 1938 was occupied by Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (billed under its full name) given in modern dress under the direction of the invariably innovative Dallas Bower.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/otd-in-early...
The evening schedule of Sunday 24 July 1938 was occupied by Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (billed under its full name) given in modern dress under the direction of the invariably innovative Dallas Bower.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/otd-in-early...
OTD in early British television: 24 July 1938 - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: The evening schedule of Sunday 24 July 1938 was occupied by Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (billed under its full name) given in modern dress by a strong company under t...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
July 24, 2025 at 10:22 AM
“The soliloquies were rather ingeniously achieved by allowing the actor to smoke his pipe silently, while a low voice whispered his thoughts.”
- Julius Caesar in modern dress on British television in 1938.
- Julius Caesar in modern dress on British television in 1938.
UPDATED: the trailer for our Playmakers’ newest writing project, now with a title reveal!
(really not #ShakespeareSunday !)
(really not #ShakespeareSunday !)
July 13, 2025 at 8:13 AM
UPDATED: the trailer for our Playmakers’ newest writing project, now with a title reveal!
(really not #ShakespeareSunday !)
(really not #ShakespeareSunday !)
Reposted by Reading Early Plays (REP)
REP’s Playmakers have a new project: a new source, a new story, a new date, a new set of characters to match with a new set of King’s Men actors; eventually, a new play that looks like an old one.
July 6, 2025 at 5:11 PM
REP’s Playmakers have a new project: a new source, a new story, a new date, a new set of characters to match with a new set of King’s Men actors; eventually, a new play that looks like an old one.
REP’s Playmakers have a new project: a new source, a new story, a new date, a new set of characters to match with a new set of King’s Men actors; eventually, a new play that looks like an old one.
July 6, 2025 at 5:11 PM
REP’s Playmakers have a new project: a new source, a new story, a new date, a new set of characters to match with a new set of King’s Men actors; eventually, a new play that looks like an old one.
Tonight in REP: an evening of court masques and other incidental King's Men performances (1609-12) with accompanying music & design coming to you via Zoom.
July 2, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Tonight in REP: an evening of court masques and other incidental King's Men performances (1609-12) with accompanying music & design coming to you via Zoom.
On British television in July 1939, “Fiat Justitia”, an eclectic anthology of literary scenes on the subject of the law, including Much Ado About Nothing & The Merchant of Venice
#Shakespeare
#Shakespeare
OTD in early British television
Lookers-in on the evening of Saturday 1 July 1939 were treated to a 50-minute anthology of scenes from literature about the law.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/otd-in-early...
Lookers-in on the evening of Saturday 1 July 1939 were treated to a 50-minute anthology of scenes from literature about the law.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/otd-in-early...
OTD in early British television: 1 July 1939 - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Lookers-in on the evening of Saturday 1 July 1939 were treated to a 50-minute anthology of scenes from literature about the law. Compiled by Barbara Nixon and produced by Desmond Da...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
July 1, 2025 at 4:33 PM
On British television in July 1939, “Fiat Justitia”, an eclectic anthology of literary scenes on the subject of the law, including Much Ado About Nothing & The Merchant of Venice
#Shakespeare
#Shakespeare