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
Reading Early Plays returns on 30th September, rejoining the King’s Men Company in 1618, with a revival of The Merry Devil of Edmonton, introduced (as are all our play readings) by Dr. Martin Wiggins.
See www.readingearlyplays.com for our full Autumn schedule and how to join & read with us.
See www.readingearlyplays.com for our full Autumn schedule and how to join & read with us.
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 15, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Reading Early Plays returns on 30th September, rejoining the King’s Men Company in 1618, with a revival of The Merry Devil of Edmonton, introduced (as are all our play readings) by Dr. Martin Wiggins.
See www.readingearlyplays.com for our full Autumn schedule and how to join & read with us.
See www.readingearlyplays.com for our full Autumn schedule and how to join & read with us.
Reposted by Reading Early Plays (REP)
Pretty excited to finally have a hard copy of Georgie Lucas’s first monograph in my hands!
Congrats Georgie!!
*Massacres in Early Modern Drama* is out now in our Revels Plays Companion Library series: manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526147318/ #Marlowe
Congrats Georgie!!
*Massacres in Early Modern Drama* is out now in our Revels Plays Companion Library series: manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526147318/ #Marlowe
September 9, 2026 at 7:34 AM
Pretty excited to finally have a hard copy of Georgie Lucas’s first monograph in my hands!
Congrats Georgie!!
*Massacres in Early Modern Drama* is out now in our Revels Plays Companion Library series: manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526147318/ #Marlowe
Congrats Georgie!!
*Massacres in Early Modern Drama* is out now in our Revels Plays Companion Library series: manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526147318/ #Marlowe
Tonight in REP we leave the King’s Men behind and finish our season reading All’s Lost By Lust (1619) by William Rowley, in our special request slot.
July 8, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Tonight in REP we leave the King’s Men behind and finish our season reading All’s Lost By Lust (1619) by William Rowley, in our special request slot.
“The Lord Mayor hath taken his oath, is seated in his barge again …”
Tonight in REP: a special selection of Lord Mayors’ pageants (1612-18)
- texts prepared for reading by Gerald Baker.
Tonight in REP: a special selection of Lord Mayors’ pageants (1612-18)
- texts prepared for reading by Gerald Baker.
July 1, 2026 at 9:03 AM
“The Lord Mayor hath taken his oath, is seated in his barge again …”
Tonight in REP: a special selection of Lord Mayors’ pageants (1612-18)
- texts prepared for reading by Gerald Baker.
Tonight in REP: a special selection of Lord Mayors’ pageants (1612-18)
- texts prepared for reading by Gerald Baker.
We’re taking a special interest in revivals at the moment in REP, and this new book has contributions from old friends & current members of our group. We look forward to reading it.
A long time in the making, Reprints & Revivals of Renaissance Drama, which I edited with Harry Newman (a long time friend), is now out! It's a collection about forms of renewal in print & performance & their importance to the production & reception of early modern drama.
June 29, 2026 at 3:49 PM
We’re taking a special interest in revivals at the moment in REP, and this new book has contributions from old friends & current members of our group. We look forward to reading it.
This week in REP we read The Elder Brother, performed by the King’s Men in 1618.
Will the character played by Richard Burbage be given time offstage around Act 4, or has the arrival of younger actors diluted his stage time so that he no longer needs his traditional break?
#ShakespeareSunday
Will the character played by Richard Burbage be given time offstage around Act 4, or has the arrival of younger actors diluted his stage time so that he no longer needs his traditional break?
#ShakespeareSunday
June 21, 2026 at 8:37 AM
This week in REP we read The Elder Brother, performed by the King’s Men in 1618.
Will the character played by Richard Burbage be given time offstage around Act 4, or has the arrival of younger actors diluted his stage time so that he no longer needs his traditional break?
#ShakespeareSunday
Will the character played by Richard Burbage be given time offstage around Act 4, or has the arrival of younger actors diluted his stage time so that he no longer needs his traditional break?
#ShakespeareSunday
Tonight in REP we return to reading The Winter’s Tale, marking its revival by The King’s Men in 1618.
June 17, 2026 at 8:02 AM
Tonight in REP we return to reading The Winter’s Tale, marking its revival by The King’s Men in 1618.
Tonight in REP we read Thierry & Theodoret (1617/18) in which Brunhild is taxed with hot tainters (and I think we all know how that feels at the moment).
![THE TRAGEDY
OF
Thierry and Theodoret.
Altus Primus.
Scæna Prima.
Enter Theodoret, Brunbalt, Bawd[b]er.
BRUNHALT.
TAxe me with the se h to o ntain ?
You are too sudain ;](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xk4sntfhtpzxpctoldr2gslo/bafkreigm7vhmxxe27kbvgk3ttfbbkfi6ilf5kctwme5pup6wszhhnwpkmu)
May 27, 2026 at 9:02 AM
Tonight in REP we read Thierry & Theodoret (1617/18) in which Brunhild is taxed with hot tainters (and I think we all know how that feels at the moment).
While we at REP continue to read the plays of The King’s Men, Dr Héloïse Sénéchal writes here about one of the King’s Women:
[this post is an emended version of an earlier slightly erroneous one, now deleted]
[this post is an emended version of an earlier slightly erroneous one, now deleted]
www.kingswomen.org/post/alice-t...
The latest blogpost from the King’s Women looks at new evidence identifying the woman who served drinks to theatregoers at the Globe tavern.
The latest blogpost from the King’s Women looks at new evidence identifying the woman who served drinks to theatregoers at the Globe tavern.
Alice Tapps White Jacob: Alleged Brothel-Keeper, and Landlady at the Globe Tavern
by Héloïse Sénéchal, 5 May 2026 In this blog post, Héloïse Sénéchal looks at new evidence identifying the woman who served drinks to theatregoers at the Globe tavern. The second Globe playhouse had a ...
www.kingswomen.org
May 18, 2026 at 2:55 PM
While we at REP continue to read the plays of The King’s Men, Dr Héloïse Sénéchal writes here about one of the King’s Women:
[this post is an emended version of an earlier slightly erroneous one, now deleted]
[this post is an emended version of an earlier slightly erroneous one, now deleted]
Tonight in REP we read Rollo, Duke of Normandy, as performed by The King’s Men in 1617.
May 13, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Tonight in REP we read Rollo, Duke of Normandy, as performed by The King’s Men in 1617.
Reposted by Reading Early Plays (REP)
Open day at the Shakespeare Institute!
What a treat to have a taster lecture from Professor Ewan Fernie (of TV documentary fame!) who is intellectually revisiting 1606; considering the plays that were being written at the time.
#Shakespeare #shakespeareinstitute #openday #1606
What a treat to have a taster lecture from Professor Ewan Fernie (of TV documentary fame!) who is intellectually revisiting 1606; considering the plays that were being written at the time.
#Shakespeare #shakespeareinstitute #openday #1606
May 11, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Open day at the Shakespeare Institute!
What a treat to have a taster lecture from Professor Ewan Fernie (of TV documentary fame!) who is intellectually revisiting 1606; considering the plays that were being written at the time.
#Shakespeare #shakespeareinstitute #openday #1606
What a treat to have a taster lecture from Professor Ewan Fernie (of TV documentary fame!) who is intellectually revisiting 1606; considering the plays that were being written at the time.
#Shakespeare #shakespeareinstitute #openday #1606
Reposted by Reading Early Plays (REP)
On Shakespeare and surveys and maps. Ingredients for a theatrical history…
open.substack.com/pub/shakespe...
open.substack.com/pub/shakespe...
Navigating Shakespearean History
A meditation on mapping and the surveys of Ralph Treswell
open.substack.com
May 8, 2026 at 6:45 AM
On Shakespeare and surveys and maps. Ingredients for a theatrical history…
open.substack.com/pub/shakespe...
open.substack.com/pub/shakespe...
Tonight in REP we resume our readings of The King’s Men repertoire, marking the 1617 revival of The Alchemist (in our own reduced version, meaning we can begin at the usual time of 7.30pm despite Ben Jonson.)
- and coming this season: Dukes, Duchesses & Queens, from Normandy, Malfi, Corinth & more
- and coming this season: Dukes, Duchesses & Queens, from Normandy, Malfi, Corinth & more
May 6, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Tonight in REP we resume our readings of The King’s Men repertoire, marking the 1617 revival of The Alchemist (in our own reduced version, meaning we can begin at the usual time of 7.30pm despite Ben Jonson.)
- and coming this season: Dukes, Duchesses & Queens, from Normandy, Malfi, Corinth & more
- and coming this season: Dukes, Duchesses & Queens, from Normandy, Malfi, Corinth & more
A reminder to REP members that despite our text of Volpone being a bespoke reduced version for the King’s Men 1617 revival - known as the #SlimNano edit - we are still starting at 7pm UK time (because Ben Jonson)
March 25, 2026 at 4:24 PM
A reminder to REP members that despite our text of Volpone being a bespoke reduced version for the King’s Men 1617 revival - known as the #SlimNano edit - we are still starting at 7pm UK time (because Ben Jonson)
Tonight in REP we read The Chances written by John Fletcher for The King’s Men in 1617
March 18, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Tonight in REP we read The Chances written by John Fletcher for The King’s Men in 1617
This week in REP:
Monday: Our palaeographers count the costs of herbs & flowers.
Tuesday: Our playmakers are writing songs for beggars.
Wednesday: We’re reading Court Masques again.
Monday: Our palaeographers count the costs of herbs & flowers.
Tuesday: Our playmakers are writing songs for beggars.
Wednesday: We’re reading Court Masques again.
March 9, 2026 at 4:49 PM
This week in REP:
Monday: Our palaeographers count the costs of herbs & flowers.
Tuesday: Our playmakers are writing songs for beggars.
Wednesday: We’re reading Court Masques again.
Monday: Our palaeographers count the costs of herbs & flowers.
Tuesday: Our playmakers are writing songs for beggars.
Wednesday: We’re reading Court Masques again.
A reminder for REP members: tonight’s reading of The Devil Is An Ass begins at the earlier time of 7pm (because Ben Jonson).
March 4, 2026 at 8:27 AM
A reminder for REP members: tonight’s reading of The Devil Is An Ass begins at the earlier time of 7pm (because Ben Jonson).
So, it looks as if we at REP are going to have to revise our opinions as to who played who in the original production of Hamlet.
#Hamnet #Shakespeare
#Hamnet #Shakespeare
February 13, 2026 at 10:17 PM
So, it looks as if we at REP are going to have to revise our opinions as to who played who in the original production of Hamlet.
#Hamnet #Shakespeare
#Hamnet #Shakespeare
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.