How To Academy Podcast
Daniel Swift – Art, Commerce, and the Origin Story of William Shakespeare
May 6, 2025
Daniel Swift, a Shakespeare scholar at Northeastern and author of 'The Dream Factory', sheds light on the often-overlooked entrepreneurs of Elizabethan theatre. He discusses how the Burbage family laid the groundwork for a vibrant dramatic scene by overcoming significant challenges from civil and religious authorities. Swift also explores the interconnection between art and commerce during Shakespeare's time, revealing how these dynamics influenced both the theatre's evolution and the innovative storytelling that emerged.
40:00
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast highlights how the entrepreneurial spirit of the Burbage family was essential in establishing professional theaters, impacting Shakespeare's career.
- It discusses the financial struggles faced by playwrights in Elizabethan theater, emphasizing how economic pressures influenced the creation of great art.
Deep dives
The Business of Elizabethan Theater
The podcast delves into the intersection of art and commerce in Elizabethan theater, particularly focusing on Shakespeare's world. It emphasizes the importance of financial stability for writers, as illustrated by Virginia Woolf's assertion that authors require a space to create, akin to Shakespeare's own struggles to balance artistic aspirations with familial responsibilities. Through a comparison of historical income figures, the average fee for a play during Shakespeare’s time was only £7, highlighting the economic challenges faced by playwrights. This recurring theme of financial concern underlines the broader reality that great art often emerges from the pressure to sustain oneself financially.
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