The Shakespeare Plays — Shakespeare Illuminated
The Shakespeare Illuminated series, hosted by Professor Michael Delahoyde, examines the canonical Shakespeare dramas and several apocryphal plays in their context. Each episode spotlights one play, offering an Oxfordian analysis that uncovers nuances of Shakespeare’s masterful storytelling and strikingly modern characters.
Journey with us from the dangerous royal courts of England to the bustling streets of Verona as we explore the historical and cultural environments that shaped Shakespeare’s dramas and reflect the political intrigues, social norms, and philosophical debates of the time.
Each play is presented to a live audience, and all will be polished and made available as videos to reach a broader audience. Sign up to the SOF email list below to get invitations to the live shows!
Up Next
Macbeth Live!
November 10th
Watch Now
Watch our first episode,
Much Ado About Nothing
Coming Soon
Winter's Tale
Twelfth Night
and more!
Coming Soon
Winter's Tale
Twelfth Night
and more!
Watch Now
Watch our first episode,
Much Ado About Nothing
Shakespeare’s timeless dramas have enchanted audiences for centuries. From the poignant poetry of Romeo and Juliet to the political intrigue of Julius Caesar, each play is a window into the complexities of the human experience enriched by enduring relevance and universal truth.
Thirty-eight plays are currently attributed to William Shakespeare and more works may belong in the canon.
Shakespeare Illuminated goes play-by-play through the Canon and beyond, providing Oxfordian insights that help us further appreciate motivations and references within his plots and characters, through the witty banter of Beatrice and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing to the obsessions and haunting soliloquies of Hamlet as he grapples with questions of royal succession and mortality.
Whether you’re a newcomer to Shakespeare’s world or a seasoned scholar, this series promises to deepen your appreciation of his psychological insights, unparalleled education, broad worldly experience, and explicable genius.
Click on a play to read a synopsis. Videos coming in 2025!
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About Michael Delahoyde
Your host for Shakespeare Illuminated, Dr. Michael Delahoyde is a Professor of English at Washington State University teaching Shakespeare, Mythology, and interdisciplinary arts and humanities courses. He earned undergraduate degrees in English, Music, and Education at Vassar College in his hometown of Poughkeepsie, New York, and his Ph.D. in English Literature at the University of Michigan. Professor Delahoyde has published articles on Chaucer, dinosaur films, children’s toys, and meat ads, but solely on Oxford as Shakespeare during the current century. He served as Senior Editor for the MLA journal, The Rocky Mountain Review, for 14 years and as Managing Editor of Brief Chronicles subsequently. He has conducted archival research in Italy thanks to SOF project grants, and has produced Oxfordian editions of Anthony and Cleopatra and Twelfth Night. His website has extensive resources on all the Shakespeare plays.
Thank you
Shakespeare Illuminated relies on the generosity of donors. To support Shakespeare Illuminated, or pick a play to sponsor, please contact us at info@shakespeareoxfordfellowship.org.
