Episode 20: Stories That Refuse to Die: Shakespeare, Taylor Swift and Cultural Memory

Episode 20: Stories That Refuse to Die: Shakespeare, Taylor Swift and Cultural Memory

What do Taylor Swift and William Shakespeare have in common? In this interview episode of The Shakespop Podcast, I sit down with Shakespeare scholar and author Dr Elly McCausland to explore the surprising connections between one of the world's most influential playwrights and one of today's most discussed songwriters. Together we discuss adaptation, close reading, literary fandom, and the enduring afterlives of characters like Juliet, Ophelia and Lady Macbeth. Rather than asking whether Taylor Swift simply "references" Shakespeare, we explore how both artists continue to shape the way we tell stories, create meaning and build communities around literature. Whether you're a Shakespeare enthusiast, a Swiftie, or simply curious about why these cultural worlds keep colliding, this conversation offers fresh perspectives on literature, popular culture and the power of interpretation. Guest Dr Elly McCausland is a scholar of Shakespeare, adaptation and popular culture, and the author of Swifterature: A Love Story: English Literature and Taylor Swift, Meet Me in the Afterglow, Stars Around My Scars, and Bake It Off. She is also the creator of Literature (Taylor's Version), which explores the rich conversations between literature and Taylor Swift's songwriting. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow The Shakespop Podcast, leave a rating, and share it with a fellow Shakespeare lover—or a Swiftie.

Ep 19: Reading for Clues: Taylor Swift, Shakespeare, and the Rise of the Hyper-Engaged Audience

What do Swifties and Shakespeare audiences have in common? In this month's anchor episode, I explore how Taylor Swift fans decode lyrics, Easter eggs, and hidden meanings, and what that can teach us about the ways audiences have engaged with Shakespeare for over four centuries. From Samuel Pepys' theatre diaries to TikTok theories, this episode examines fandom, interpretation, and the pleasure of searching for clues. Featuring discussion of Taylor Swift, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare's Sonnets, fan culture, and the Shakespeare multiverse. 🎧 Bonus content: Members of the Secret Shakespeare Society can unlock The Shakespeare Society Soundtrack, a curated Spotify playlist exploring Shakespeare's afterlives across popular music. I'd love to hear from you: What Taylor Swift lyric feels most Shakespearean—and why?

Ep 18: Adapting Shakespeare for a new audience with Samir Bhamra

In this episode of The Shakespop Podcast, I’m joined by theatre maker, writer, and director Samir Bhamra to discuss adapting Shakespeare through the lens of British Asian identity, language, music, and performance. We explore the creative and political possibilities of reimagining Shakespeare for contemporary multicultural Britain, from questions of audience and belonging to the legacy of British Asian theatre and the pressures of representation. Samir reflects on his career adapting Shakespeare across stage and musical forms, the role of humour and hybridity in his work, and what it means to inherit — and transform — Shakespeare today. The conversation also marks ten years since Indian Shakespeare Cinemas on Screen at the BFI Southbank, the landmark event co-created with Varsha Panjwani, Preti Taneja, and Thea Buckley — a reminder of how conversations around global and British Asian Shakespeare continue to evolve across theatre, film, and popular culture. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a rating or review, and sharing the podcast with fellow Shakespeare fans, theatre lovers, and adaptation enthusiasts. Follow the wider Shakespop project for essays, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes material via the Secret Shakespeare Society on Substack.

Cymbeline as a Manmohan Desai Epic Indian Film

Short clip from Epsiode 18: Interview with British Asian Theatremaker Samir Bhamra

Episode 17: Inherited Scripts: Who Owns Shakespeare in British Asian Culture?

Who owns Shakespeare—and who gets to speak him without explanation? In this episode of The Shakespop Podcast, Dr Koel Chatterjee marks the 10-year anniversary of the 2016 “Indian Shakespeares on Screen” event at BFI Southbank and Asia House, co-organised with Varsha Panjwani, Thea Buckley, and Preti Taneja. Reflecting on that moment a decade later, this episode traces a major shift in Shakespeare studies—from introduction to authority, from translation to assertion. Moving beyond ideas of “adaptation” or “representation,” the episode explores British Asian Shakespeare as a site of cultural negotiation, where questions of legitimacy, performance, and ownership are actively contested. Follow & Connect Instagram | TikTok | Substack: @Shakespop ⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, follow, rate, and review—it helps others find the showListen Next 🎭 Interview with Sameer Bhamra — British Asian theatre in practice📖 Shakesfic: Deep dive into We That Are Young