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
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.
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
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.
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 !)
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.
At 6.15pm we read a play - if you’re at the Shakespeare Institute for #Britgrad2025 come & read with us.
(* please note: this is not a real Jacobean tragedy, as performed by Shakespeare’s company! We wrote it ourselves, but we do like to think that it’s quite convincing & enjoyable.)
(* please note: this is not a real Jacobean tragedy, as performed by Shakespeare’s company! We wrote it ourselves, but we do like to think that it’s quite convincing & enjoyable.)
June 19, 2025 at 9:31 AM
At 6.15pm we read a play - if you’re at the Shakespeare Institute for #Britgrad2025 come & read with us.
(* please note: this is not a real Jacobean tragedy, as performed by Shakespeare’s company! We wrote it ourselves, but we do like to think that it’s quite convincing & enjoyable.)
(* please note: this is not a real Jacobean tragedy, as performed by Shakespeare’s company! We wrote it ourselves, but we do like to think that it’s quite convincing & enjoyable.)
This evening at @britgrad.bsky.social we read a play - if you’re at the Shakespeare Institute for #Britgrad come & read with us.
(* please note: this is not a real Jacobean tragedy, performed by Shakespeare’s company! We wrote it ourselves, but we do like to think that it is quite convincing.)
(* please note: this is not a real Jacobean tragedy, performed by Shakespeare’s company! We wrote it ourselves, but we do like to think that it is quite convincing.)
June 19, 2025 at 7:50 AM
This evening at @britgrad.bsky.social we read a play - if you’re at the Shakespeare Institute for #Britgrad come & read with us.
(* please note: this is not a real Jacobean tragedy, performed by Shakespeare’s company! We wrote it ourselves, but we do like to think that it is quite convincing.)
(* please note: this is not a real Jacobean tragedy, performed by Shakespeare’s company! We wrote it ourselves, but we do like to think that it is quite convincing.)
Tonight in REP we return to Julius Caesar, for its 1613 revival by The King’s Men.
June 11, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Tonight in REP we return to Julius Caesar, for its 1613 revival by The King’s Men.
When reading The Merry Devil of Edmonton for its 1613 revival by The King’s Men this is surely the question one must ask:
June 4, 2025 at 10:06 AM
When reading The Merry Devil of Edmonton for its 1613 revival by The King’s Men this is surely the question one must ask:
On Wednesday in REP we will read Philaster by Beaumont & Fletcher.
- it is subtitled Love Lies a Bleeding, so we will be investigating any signs of adaptation & influence in later, similarly titled, works (possibly).
- it is subtitled Love Lies a Bleeding, so we will be investigating any signs of adaptation & influence in later, similarly titled, works (possibly).
May 20, 2025 at 10:02 AM
On Wednesday in REP we will read Philaster by Beaumont & Fletcher.
- it is subtitled Love Lies a Bleeding, so we will be investigating any signs of adaptation & influence in later, similarly titled, works (possibly).
- it is subtitled Love Lies a Bleeding, so we will be investigating any signs of adaptation & influence in later, similarly titled, works (possibly).
Tonight in REP we read a slimmed down version of Ben Jonson’s Alchemist (“two short hours” he said) carefully slicing away up to 25% of the play. What could possibly go wrong? #THALCHMST
May 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Tonight in REP we read a slimmed down version of Ben Jonson’s Alchemist (“two short hours” he said) carefully slicing away up to 25% of the play. What could possibly go wrong? #THALCHMST
“two [short] hours” - maybe they meant it when they said it.
[prologues by Jonson, (probably) Fletcher & Shakespeare].
- on Wednesday in REP we read a version of Jonson’s Alchemist reduced to something like the running time it claims for itself.
#ShakespeareSunday
#TwoHourJonson ?
[prologues by Jonson, (probably) Fletcher & Shakespeare].
- on Wednesday in REP we read a version of Jonson’s Alchemist reduced to something like the running time it claims for itself.
#ShakespeareSunday
#TwoHourJonson ?
![Lines clipped from the prologues of three plays: The Alchemist, Henry VIII & Henry V. All three claim the play will last “two [short] hours”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xk4sntfhtpzxpctoldr2gslo/bafkreihurnblpzoezixrjkfxqg2olo6swrcnh4rgnuspkmzhrzfxt7bk2a@jpeg)
May 11, 2025 at 8:37 PM
“two [short] hours” - maybe they meant it when they said it.
[prologues by Jonson, (probably) Fletcher & Shakespeare].
- on Wednesday in REP we read a version of Jonson’s Alchemist reduced to something like the running time it claims for itself.
#ShakespeareSunday
#TwoHourJonson ?
[prologues by Jonson, (probably) Fletcher & Shakespeare].
- on Wednesday in REP we read a version of Jonson’s Alchemist reduced to something like the running time it claims for itself.
#ShakespeareSunday
#TwoHourJonson ?
An angry Armenian unicorn in George Chapman’s 1603 play Bussy D’Ambois for #NationalUnicornDay
(see ALT for a modernised version of the text)
(see ALT for a modernised version of the text)
April 9, 2025 at 8:29 PM
An angry Armenian unicorn in George Chapman’s 1603 play Bussy D’Ambois for #NationalUnicornDay
(see ALT for a modernised version of the text)
(see ALT for a modernised version of the text)
Thanks to all those who read and responded so positively to the Playmakers’ new/old play The Lady of Chabry. We’re already working through your observations & suggestions to refine our text for a further reading later this year.
Below actual footage of our reaction to feedback from Martin Wiggins.
Below actual footage of our reaction to feedback from Martin Wiggins.
March 21, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Thanks to all those who read and responded so positively to the Playmakers’ new/old play The Lady of Chabry. We’re already working through your observations & suggestions to refine our text for a further reading later this year.
Below actual footage of our reaction to feedback from Martin Wiggins.
Below actual footage of our reaction to feedback from Martin Wiggins.
Tonight in REP the full premiere of The Lady of Chabry - a newly written play designed by our Playmakers group for the repertoire of Shakespeare’s King’s Men Company, and adapted to be performed at Court in 1613.
![THE LADY OF CHABRY
[PROLOGUE AT COURT]
Enter HYMEN' in saffron robes,
crowned with roses and marjoram, carrying a torch of pine.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xk4sntfhtpzxpctoldr2gslo/bafkreibush7qtdiypywhadgoaczikm47aohysob5rkwihsyswd5ffbjuoi@jpeg)
March 19, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Tonight in REP the full premiere of The Lady of Chabry - a newly written play designed by our Playmakers group for the repertoire of Shakespeare’s King’s Men Company, and adapted to be performed at Court in 1613.
Tonight in REP we shall be slubbering up The Captain by Beaumont & Fletcher
March 12, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Tonight in REP we shall be slubbering up The Captain by Beaumont & Fletcher
‘The Lady of Chabry’ was written by our Playmaking group in 2024/5, imagining a Jacobean tragedy as performed by Shakespeare’s company in 1612. REP will read the play on 19th March.
- definitely not #ShakespeareSunday!
- here one of the hired murderers of the Lord of Chabry is making his escape:
- definitely not #ShakespeareSunday!
- here one of the hired murderers of the Lord of Chabry is making his escape:
![[2.3]
Enter Jean Tros
TROS
Now do the fingers of our fatal work
Spread through the land and 'gin to pinch the town.
A panic fear swells neath enforced calm.
Best not be taken idly in the street,
By those that search for flightsome murderers.
My dull confederates I've closely shut
Behind their doors. They'll hold their milky tongues
While that I play the bloody Tartar's part
And shake my beard at them. Meanwhile, this crime
Will have its wonted, creeping consequence:
To crush its authors 'neath the vengeful state Or else propel them on to unchecked rule.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xk4sntfhtpzxpctoldr2gslo/bafkreiala6dugod5ospdcjzzxqcrlqczwzvcz2n4umv5wnszkcsl3dd5le@jpeg)
March 9, 2025 at 2:07 PM
‘The Lady of Chabry’ was written by our Playmaking group in 2024/5, imagining a Jacobean tragedy as performed by Shakespeare’s company in 1612. REP will read the play on 19th March.
- definitely not #ShakespeareSunday!
- here one of the hired murderers of the Lord of Chabry is making his escape:
- definitely not #ShakespeareSunday!
- here one of the hired murderers of the Lord of Chabry is making his escape:
Very much Martin Wiggins’ modus operandi when introducing the plays for our readings in REP.
#ShakespeareSunday
#ShakespeareSunday
March 2, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Very much Martin Wiggins’ modus operandi when introducing the plays for our readings in REP.
#ShakespeareSunday
#ShakespeareSunday
On Wednesday 19th of February at 7.30 pm, we turn to The Maid’s Tragedy by Beaumont & Fletcher as REP continues reading through the plays of The King’s Men company.
February 16, 2025 at 6:18 PM
On Wednesday 19th of February at 7.30 pm, we turn to The Maid’s Tragedy by Beaumont & Fletcher as REP continues reading through the plays of The King’s Men company.
“The Muses forbid that I should restrain your meddling…”
On Wednesday our readers (both ordinary & extraordinary) will meddle with Catiline’s Conspiracy by Ben Jonson; here is one minute from his address to his readers; the play itself being rather longer than that, we shall begin at 7pm.
⬆️🔊⬆️
On Wednesday our readers (both ordinary & extraordinary) will meddle with Catiline’s Conspiracy by Ben Jonson; here is one minute from his address to his readers; the play itself being rather longer than that, we shall begin at 7pm.
⬆️🔊⬆️
February 10, 2025 at 9:16 AM
“The Muses forbid that I should restrain your meddling…”
On Wednesday our readers (both ordinary & extraordinary) will meddle with Catiline’s Conspiracy by Ben Jonson; here is one minute from his address to his readers; the play itself being rather longer than that, we shall begin at 7pm.
⬆️🔊⬆️
On Wednesday our readers (both ordinary & extraordinary) will meddle with Catiline’s Conspiracy by Ben Jonson; here is one minute from his address to his readers; the play itself being rather longer than that, we shall begin at 7pm.
⬆️🔊⬆️