Exploring: N-Town, Plays 18 to 20 (Kings, Purification, Herod)

Episode 172,   Dec 23, 2020, 08:17 AM

An exploratory read through and discussion of N-Town plays 18 to 20

Exploring: The N-Town Play, a slow burn look at a medieval Mystery (sort of) cycle. The N-Town Play comes to us as a single manuscript, but it's a compilation of various different sources - including elements from what looks like a cycle and various other large scale productions focusing on episodes from the Bible.
The journey continues with plays eighteen to twenty (there is no play 17! Or is there...) - looking at the appearance of the Magi, the Purification of Mary and a fond farewell to horrible Herod.
The Beyond Shakespeare Irregulars this episode were Eleanor Wilkinson, Francis Cox, Eric Karoulla, Lois Potter, Alan Scott, Lynn Freitas, and Helen Good. The host was Robert Crighton.

There are various online and purchasable versions of these texts available - here's a good one, but is in the original middle English and might put you off - others should be hunted for to taste.
Play texts start here: https://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/text/sugano-n-town-plays-play-18-magi
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The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is hosted and produced by Robert Crighton.