Awkward Shakespeare
Want to understand more about Shakespeare’s plays but not into boring lectures on how to pass a GCSE in English literature? Awkward Shakespeare is a scene by scene guide to some of Shakespeare’s greatest works, an in-depth but lighthearted exploration of the stories and language behind the plays. Every episode deals with a single scene, so it’s really easy to navigate, and we’ll be looking at key characters and key concepts along the way.
Episodes
May 11, 2025
May 11, 2025
38 min
Macbeth
Act 5 Scene 9
Absolutely everything is resolved. Macbeth is dead, Macduff is avenged, Malcolm is king. It's PURE coincidence that this is just how things were at the start of the play. No suggestion at all that history might repeat itself. History NEVER does that. (Where IS Fleance though?)
Content warning: brief references to suicide.
May 8, 2025
May 8, 2025
38 min
Macbeth
Act 5 Scene 8
In which we find out, in possibly the most controversial loophole in literary history, that being born by Caesarean means you were not "of woman born". Macduff takes his revenge, Macbeth is killed, the tyrant is no more.
May 1, 2025
May 1, 2025
31 min
Macbeth
Act 5 Scene 6 and Act 5 Scene 7
Surprise! It's not a moving wood, it's Malcolm's army. The two sides finally clash, the castle is somewhat easily surrendered, and there's one big scene for the actor given the role of Young Siward.
Apr 25, 2025
Apr 25, 2025
1 hr 8 min
Macbeth
Act 5 Scenes 4 and 5
In which the witches' prophecy about Great Birnam Wood unexpectedly comes true, Lady Macbeth dies, and Macbeth realises trusting supernatural entities was a really bad idea. Plus he gives a truly great speech about existence, theatre and the human condition.
Apr 14, 2025
Apr 14, 2025
36 min
Macbeth
Act 5 Scene 3.
Macbeth is back and he's definitely not afraid. As he says (repeatedly) what's he got to be afraid of? Still, best to get that terrified looking servant to go away, just in case it's catching.
Apr 2, 2025
Apr 2, 2025
34 min
Macbeth
Act 5 Scene 2
A group of thanes are on their way to Birnam Wood, where they hope to meet Malcolm, Macduff and their army. Meanwhile "the tyrant", they tell us, is struggling to maintain his grip on power. Bonus: two unexpected references to the US political scene. #topical.
Mar 28, 2025
Mar 28, 2025
49 min
Macbeth
Act 5 Scene 1
In which we see Lady Macbeth begin to disintegrate mentally as she finally begins to process the impact of her crimes. Turns out a little water does not in fact cleanse you of your deeds.
Mar 18, 2025
Mar 18, 2025
1 hr 6 min
Macbeth
Act 4 Scene 3
A scene even critics and academics describe as dull. Malcolm is greedy, lustful and entirely unfit to rule. Or is he? Secrets, lies, and masculinity takes, and poor Macduff finds out what's happened to his family.
Mar 6, 2025
Mar 6, 2025
38 min
Macbeth
Act 4 Scene 2
The one where Macduff's son is all cute and witty until (like a lot of other characters in this play) he's brutally murdered on Macbeth's orders. A useful reminder - as if you needed it - that tyranny is bad.
Feb 24, 2025
Feb 24, 2025
47 min
Macbeth
Act 4 Scene 1 (part 2)
More detail on Macbeth and his second visit to the witches, in which I say FAR too much about this scene. But in my defence, there's a lot to say.
The Awkward English Teacher
A little bit socially awkward, but mostly just really stubborn. This podcast series exists because I've never liked education to be about passing exams or learning how to answer questions in specific ways. I first encountered Shakespeare in primary school through Leon Garfield's Shakespeare's Stories, a school trip to Return to the Forbidden Planet, and two very passionate and gifted teachers who wrote us our own Shakespearean mash-up rock musical for a school play. It's that enthusiasm I want to share.
Throughout I will do my best to be accurate, but my days of university level study are far behind me now and there are bound to be some errors along the way. Feel free to politely point them out! Or if there's a take you simply don't agree with, comment and give your own. Discussion is, after all, what it should be about. Thanks for listening.