Welcome

A huge thanks to everyone who tuned in, liked, listened and shared the podcast over the past three months since the show launched! You’ve made us a 2025 Fan Fave, Instant Hit Show and Talked About Show on Spotify, as per the 2025 Spotify Wrapped!

WELCOME TO MUSING ON THE BARD

Who is this podcast for? It’s for those who are interested in Shakespeare and, somewhat paradoxically, also for those who feel they should be interested in Shakespeare, but so far have not been lured by his charms. It’s about the craft of acting – we are all actors here, so no avoiding that – but it is also about the act of creating in general. It is about being human. About the mis-takes made while walking the creative road and what that taught us. About the success we might have achieved and what that taught us. All seasoned with a smattering of history and a lot of passion – for storytelling, creating, understanding and yes, for Shakespeare and his works.

Throw in a touch of passionate discourse and a healthy dose of irreverence and the result is: Musing on the Bard: a podcast for the Shakespeare curious. Welcome.

Musing on the Bard has been created to mark the tenth anniversary of the critically acclaimed Australian digital series, Shakespeare Republic, hosted by award-winning Shakespeare Republic creator/director and Australian actor, Sally McLean and supported by the British Shakespeare Association.

Through in-depth conversations with some of the fascinating, award-winning members of the Shakespeare Republic acting ensemble based in Australia, the UK and the USA, this podcast delves into each guest’s experience performing, directing or adapting Shakespeare’s works, the trials and tribulations of plying the acting craft, thoughts and musings on creativity in general and much, much more.

Our guests have tread the boards on highly respected world stages such as Shakespeare’s Globe in London, New York Shakespeare Festival in Central Park, Melbourne Theatre Company, Pop Up Globe in New Zealand, the Australian Shakespeare Company, Melbourne Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre in the UK, the West End in London and Broadway in the USA, among others, as well as appearing in Hollywood movies and prestige British, American and Australian TV. So come for the Shakespeare insights and stay for the wonderful stories and “in the trenches” experience that will fascinate actors, creatives and anyone who is curious about not just Shakespeare, but the Performing Arts in general.