Shakespeare - Love Across The Racial Divide

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Othello

20160502

20250915 (BBC7)
20161227 (R4)

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores five Shakespeare plays which cross the racial divide. No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. And his transgressive depictions of love in particular remain unsurpassed.

Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love. These are not tidy tragedies. Shakespeare apparently never left England except through his plays yet he embraced interracial relationships and supernatural relationships and turned them into thrilling, dangerous drama. We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so brilliantly showcased by Shakespeare more than four hundred years ago.

In the first play of the series, Othello, Shakespeare creates a powerful drama of a marriage between the Moor Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona. Shakespeare builds so many differences into his hero and heroine - differences of race, of age, of cultural background - the tragic end is almost inevitable. Yet most people who see or read the play come away feeling, but for Iago's cruel hand, the couple would have won the day.

Producer Mohini Patel.

The powerful drama of a marriage between the Moor Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores the first of five Shakespeare plays which cross the racial divide.

No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. His transgressive depictions of love remain unsurpassed.

We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so brilliantly showcased by Shakespeare more than 400 years ago.

Othello is first under the spotlight.

An exploration of the first of five Shakespeare plays crossing the racial divide.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores race and cultural differences in the ill-fated marriage in Shakespeare's Othello. From 2016.

[LISTEN NOW]

Titus Andronicus

20160503

20250916 (BBC7)
20161228 (R4)

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown focuses on the brutal revenge tragedy Titus Andronicus, and the relationship between Tamora the Goth Queen and Aaron the Moor.

In this series, Yasmin explores five Shakespeare plays which cross the racial divide. No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. And his transgressive depictions of love in particular, remain unsurpassed. Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love.

These are not tidy tragedies. Shakespeare apparently never left England except through his plays yet he embraced interracial relationships and supernatural relationships and turned them into thrilling, dangerous drama. We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so brilliantly showcased by Shakespeare more than four hundred years ago.

Producer Mohini Patel.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores the relationship between Tamora and Aaron.

Titus Andronicus is a brutal revenge tragedy focussing on the relationship between Tamora the Goth Queen and Aaron the Moor.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores another of five Shakespeare plays which cross the racial divide.

No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. His transgressive depictions of love remain unsurpassed.

Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love. These are not tidy tragedies.

An examination of Tamora and Aaron's relationship in Titus Andronicus.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown examines the relationship between Tamora the Goth Queen and Aaron the Moor in Titus Andronicus. From 2016.

[LISTEN NOW]

The Merchant Of Venice

20160504

20250917 (BBC7)
20161229 (R4)

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores five Shakespeare plays which cross the racial divide.

In this edition, she focuses on The Merchant of Venice and how Shylock, arguably one of the most renowned outsiders in British theatre, navigates being a Jew in a Christian world, especially when his daughter Jessica elopes with the Christian Lorenzo and converts.

Shakespeare apparently never left England except through his plays yet he embraced interracial relationships and supernatural relationships and turned them into thrilling, dangerous drama. We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so brilliantly showcased by Shakespeare more than four hundred years ago.

Producer Mohini Patel.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores how Shylock navigates being a Jew in a Christian world.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores the complex role of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores the complex role of Shylock in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. From 2016.

[LISTEN NOW]

A Midsummer Night's Dream

20160505

20250918 (BBC7)
20161230 (R4)

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores five Shakespeare plays which cross the racial divide. In this edition, she focuses on love in the human and fairy worlds in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. And his transgressive depictions of love in particular remain unsurpassed. Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Anthony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love. These are not tidy tragedies. Shakespeare apparently never left England except through his plays yet he embraced interracial relationships and relationships supernatural relationships into thrilling, dangerous drama.

We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so consummately showcased by Shakespeare more than four hundred years ago.

Producer Mohini Patel.

Yasmin focuses on love in the human and fairy worlds in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. And his transgressive depictions of love in particular remain unsurpassed. Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Anthony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love. These are not tidy tragedies. Shakespeare apparently never left England except through his plays yet he embraced interracial relationships and supernatural relationships, turning them into thrilling, dangerous drama.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores love in the mystical worlds of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores love in the human and fairy worlds in A Midsummer Night's Dream. From 2016.

[LISTEN NOW]

05 LAST

Antony And Cleopatra

20160506

20250919 (BBC7)
20161231 (R4)

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores five Shakespeare plays which cross the racial divide. In this edition, she focuses on the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra. Power is one of Cleopatra's most dominant character traits and the main theme of the play. She represents the lure of the East. In the Queen of Egypt, who oscillates between being a astute political leader and a manipulative seductress, Shakespeare has penned perhaps his most complex and most dazzling of female characters.

No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. And his transgressive depictions of love in particular, remain unsurpassed. Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love. These are not tidy tragedies. Shakespeare apparently never left England except through his plays yet he embraced interracial relationships and relationships supernatural relationships into thrilling, dangerous drama. We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so consummately showcased by Shakespeare more than four hundred years ago.

Producer Mohini Patel.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown focuses on the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra.

No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. And his transgressive depictions of love in particular, remain unsurpassed. Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love. These are not tidy tragedies. Shakespeare apparently never left England except through his plays yet he embraced interracial relationships and supernatural relationships, turning them into thrilling, dangerous drama. We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so consummately showcased by Shakespeare more than four hundred years ago.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown focuses on the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra, power and the lure of the East. From 2016.

[LISTEN NOW]

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Othello	20160502	20250915 (BBC7) 20161227 (R4)	Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores five Shakespeare plays which cross the racial divide. No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. And his transgressive depictions of love in particular remain unsurpassed. Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love. These are not tidy tragedies. Shakespeare apparently never left England except through his plays yet he embraced interracial relationships and supernatural relationships and turned them into thrilling, dangerous drama. We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so brilliantly showcased by Shakespeare more than four hundred years ago. In the first play of the series, Othello, Shakespeare creates a powerful drama of a marriage between the Moor Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona. Shakespeare builds so many differences into his hero and heroine - differences of race, of age, of cultural background - the tragic end is almost inevitable. Yet most people who see or read the play come away feeling, but for Iago's cruel hand, the couple would have won the day. Producer Mohini Patel. The powerful drama of a marriage between the Moor Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores the first of five Shakespeare plays which cross the racial divide. No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. His transgressive depictions of love remain unsurpassed. We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so brilliantly showcased by Shakespeare more than 400 years ago. Othello is first under the spotlight. An exploration of the first of five Shakespeare plays crossing the racial divide. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores race and cultural differences in the ill-fated marriage in Shakespeare's Othello. From 2016. [LISTEN NOW]
02	Titus Andronicus	20160503	20250916 (BBC7) 20161228 (R4)	Yasmin Alibhai-Brown focuses on the brutal revenge tragedy Titus Andronicus, and the relationship between Tamora the Goth Queen and Aaron the Moor. In this series, Yasmin explores five Shakespeare plays which cross the racial divide. No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. And his transgressive depictions of love in particular, remain unsurpassed. Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love. These are not tidy tragedies. Shakespeare apparently never left England except through his plays yet he embraced interracial relationships and supernatural relationships and turned them into thrilling, dangerous drama. We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so brilliantly showcased by Shakespeare more than four hundred years ago. Producer Mohini Patel. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores the relationship between Tamora and Aaron. Titus Andronicus is a brutal revenge tragedy focussing on the relationship between Tamora the Goth Queen and Aaron the Moor. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores another of five Shakespeare plays which cross the racial divide. No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. His transgressive depictions of love remain unsurpassed. Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love. These are not tidy tragedies. We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so brilliantly showcased by Shakespeare more than 400 years ago. An examination of Tamora and Aaron's relationship in Titus Andronicus. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown examines the relationship between Tamora the Goth Queen and Aaron the Moor in Titus Andronicus. From 2016. [LISTEN NOW]
03	The Merchant Of Venice	20160504	20250917 (BBC7) 20161229 (R4)	Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores five Shakespeare plays which cross the racial divide. In this edition, she focuses on The Merchant of Venice and how Shylock, arguably one of the most renowned outsiders in British theatre, navigates being a Jew in a Christian world, especially when his daughter Jessica elopes with the Christian Lorenzo and converts. No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. And his transgressive depictions of love in particular, remain unsurpassed. Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love. These are not tidy tragedies. Shakespeare apparently never left England except through his plays yet he embraced interracial relationships and supernatural relationships and turned them into thrilling, dangerous drama. We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so brilliantly showcased by Shakespeare more than four hundred years ago. Producer Mohini Patel. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores how Shylock navigates being a Jew in a Christian world. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores the complex role of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores the complex role of Shylock in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. From 2016. [LISTEN NOW]
04	A Midsummer Night's Dream	20160505	20250918 (BBC7) 20161230 (R4)	Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores five Shakespeare plays which cross the racial divide. In this edition, she focuses on love in the human and fairy worlds in A Midsummer Night's Dream. No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. And his transgressive depictions of love in particular remain unsurpassed. Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Anthony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love. These are not tidy tragedies. Shakespeare apparently never left England except through his plays yet he embraced interracial relationships and relationships supernatural relationships into thrilling, dangerous drama. We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so consummately showcased by Shakespeare more than four hundred years ago. Producer Mohini Patel. Yasmin focuses on love in the human and fairy worlds in A Midsummer Night's Dream. No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. And his transgressive depictions of love in particular remain unsurpassed. Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Anthony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love. These are not tidy tragedies. Shakespeare apparently never left England except through his plays yet he embraced interracial relationships and supernatural relationships, turning them into thrilling, dangerous drama. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores love in the mystical worlds of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores love in the human and fairy worlds in A Midsummer Night's Dream. From 2016. [LISTEN NOW]
05 LAST	Antony And Cleopatra	20160506	20250919 (BBC7) 20161231 (R4)	Yasmin Alibhai-Brown explores five Shakespeare plays which cross the racial divide. In this edition, she focuses on the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra. Power is one of Cleopatra's most dominant character traits and the main theme of the play. She represents the lure of the East. In the Queen of Egypt, who oscillates between being a astute political leader and a manipulative seductress, Shakespeare has penned perhaps his most complex and most dazzling of female characters. No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. And his transgressive depictions of love in particular, remain unsurpassed. Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love. These are not tidy tragedies. Shakespeare apparently never left England except through his plays yet he embraced interracial relationships and relationships supernatural relationships into thrilling, dangerous drama. We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so consummately showcased by Shakespeare more than four hundred years ago. Producer Mohini Patel. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown focuses on the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra. No one has ever captured the joy and lunacy and power of love better than William Shakespeare. And his transgressive depictions of love in particular, remain unsurpassed. Othello, Titus Andronicus, The Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night's Dream - in these five plays there's so much more to love than love. These are not tidy tragedies. Shakespeare apparently never left England except through his plays yet he embraced interracial relationships and supernatural relationships, turning them into thrilling, dangerous drama. We bring together scholars, directors and actors to explore how the compulsions and fears, joys and sorrows, very much part of everyday life for many in Britain today, were so consummately showcased by Shakespeare more than four hundred years ago. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown focuses on the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra, power and the lure of the East. From 2016. [LISTEN NOW]