Tomorrow marks the anniversary of Shakespeare's First Folio, which went on sale to the public on November 8, 1623, changing the course of English drama and literature. But what is a First Folio and why does it matter? www.folger.edu/explore/shak...

Imprisoned for nearly 20 years by her cousin Queen Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots, fought her battles through words, sending and receiving coded letters. Historian Jade Scott @huntingrebels.bsky.social uncovers the human and political depths behind Mary’s captivity: www.folger.edu/podcasts/sha...

New on the blog! In an excerpt from Sir Anthony Hopkin's long-awaited memoir "We Did Ok, Kid," he talks about the fateful Saturday night as a boy when he say Olivier's 1948 adaptation of "Hamlet" and the film sparked his passion for acting: www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

Imagine you’re on a wooden ship in the early modern period. The sounds of the world at sea surround you. Wait, is that a TRUMPET? As unexpected as it might be, musicians were a huge part of life at sea in the early modern period. But what were they doing there? www.folger.edu/blogs/collat...

The Folger Consort returns this week with a first-ever collaboration with Folger Poetry! Ahead of "Virtuosos of Violin and Verse" (Nov 7-9), we asked our musicians, what's your favorite modern song that feels like it could have been an early modern hit? 🎵 Consort tix: www.folger.edu/whats-on/vir...

Director Les Kurbas's 1920 "Macbeth" was the first production of a Shakespeare play in Ukraine. Scholar Irena Makaryk talks about his work and the role that Shakespeare and theater played in Ukrainian culture, the Russian Empire, and the early Soviet Union: www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

If you're in or around Capitol Hill this Halloween, stop by the Folger for some trick-or-treating. 🎃 👻 🍫 You can check out a full calendar of events at the Folger by visiting www.folger.edu/whats-on/

Decorated papers are a familiar sight in the Folger collection, typically used as embellishment in or on books. What can we learn from these designs? What do they tell us about the early modern book trade? More on The Collation: www.folger.edu/blogs/collat...

Just in time for Halloween, we're talking poisons on the blog! ☠️ What do we know about the historical reality of Aqua Tofana and other stories of women wielding poisons? The truth is very little, but the myths are just as telling as the reality. www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

I explored my King passion a year ago for the @folger.edu. www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

St. Crispin's Day is right around the corner (tomorrow, October 25). We take a look at what it is and how Shakespeare shaped its legacy: www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

Why are libraries the site of so many murder mysteries?! ☠️ Aspiring detectives can find out during "Death Between the Pages," a murder mystery inspired by the Folger collection! Work in teams to examine clues, uncover historical artifacts, and solve the mystery. www.folger.edu/whats-on/dea...

Our director, Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper, is giving a virtual talk with Theater J this Sunday, October 26 at 11 am! Sign up by the end of the day on Saturday to join her in a lively conversation about what Shakespeare means to us in 2025. Register: www.edcjcc.org/theater-j/sh...

Congratulations to the cast and creative team of "Julius X" for being Helen Hayes Recommended! 🥳 Time is running out to catch this phenomenal new play. See it only through October 26! 🎫 : folger.edu/juliusx 📷 : The cast of Folger Theatre's "Julius X," 2025. Photography by Erika Nizborski.

Spooky season is Shakespeare season 👻 Challenge yourself with our haunting quiz about the phantoms and apparitions in Shakespeare's plays. www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

You may know Anthony Burgess as the author of "A Clockwork Orange," but did you know he was also a prominent commentator on Shakespeare's life? More from @thurleyc.bsky.social on our Collation blog: www.folger.edu/blogs/collat...

The Folger Book Club pick for November is "You Dreamed of Empires" by Álvaro Enrigue. Pick up this revelatory revenge story about Hernán Cortés entry into the city of Tenochtitla (today's Mexico City) and join us to talk about it on Thu, Nov 6 at 6:30 pm! www.folger.edu/whats-on/fol...

"Julius Caesar" serves as inspiration for two new productions: "Julius X" by Al Letson, which reimagines the last days of Malcolm X through the structure of Shakespeare’s tragedy; and "Rome Sweet Rome," a hip hop “add-rap-tation” by the Q Brothers Collective: www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

For the final days of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, scholar Carla Della Gatta looks at the growth of Latinx-inspired Shakespeare productions in the US beginning with "West Side Story" on Broadway in 1957. www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

Shakespeare's plays are filled with unforgettable women—but too often, their voices are cut short. On the podcast, acclaimed actor Dame Harriet Walter talks about her book, "She Speaks! What Shakespeare’s Women Might Have Said": www.folger.edu/podcasts/sha...

"Julius X" is on stage now, so of course we're thinking about "Julius Caesar." Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper explores the impact of one of its most famous moments, Mark Antony's "Friends, Romans, countrymen" speech. www.youtube.com/shorts/EMuuM...

Folger Artist Fellow Elise Ansel shares how her questions about Henry Fuseli's take on Shakespeare's "Macbeth" inspired her to create two abstract, large-scale oil paintings but this time from a woman's perspective that celebrate the play's sisterhood: www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

The first track on Taylor Swift’s new album, "The Life of a Showgirl," is “The Fate of Ophelia”… which got us thinking, well, what is the fate of Ophelia? And why can’t we stop writing, painting, and singing about her? www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

"JULIUS X invites the audience to bear witness and to take part in the struggle for equality and the dream of a better tomorrow," says DC Theater Arts. Read the full review: dctheaterarts.org/2025/09/30/j...

Al Letson's play JULIUS X acts as a sort of Venn diagram that allows us to witness a familiar text (JULIUS CAESAR) with a moment from American history. Read more on our blog: www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

A friendly reminder that the Folger is open! Plan your visit today at folger.edu/visit.

Before Shakespeare transformed English drama, Christopher Marlowe had already done so. Now on the podcast, author Stephen Greenblatt discusses his new book "Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare's Greatest Rival." www.folger.edu/podcasts/sha...

New on the blog, we've got a round-up of stories about Shakespeare in the news this month—a September issue of our own—drawn from the world of art, literature, and sandwiches. 🥪 www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

the @folger.edu opens their long-term and short-term fellowship scheme for 2026. Includes book in progress fellowships, artistic research fellowships, and public humanities fellowships www.folger.edu/research/the...

"If ever there was an actor meant to seize the stage in a role of authority, it is Virginia's own Brandon Carter." 👏 We could not agree more! We can't wait for his Julius X to take the stage starting September 23. dctheaterarts.org/2025/09/17/b...

Now on the blog, discover books, costume sketches, and theatrical props for Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" in the Folger collection along with items from Folger Theatre's upcoming production of "Julius X." www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

From Heather Wolfe of @folger.edu et al., a wonderful explainer on accounting practice and documentation in early modern England, including images from a commonplace book held at Beinecke Library: www.folger.edu/blogs/collat...

📢 Attention Educators! 📢 Join us to explore "Julius Caesar" using the Folger Method. Spend hands-on time with rare materials and consider how to use these primary sources into your own teaching. Register for "Friends, Romans, Learners: A Weekend Intensive Workshop": www.folger.edu/whats-on/fri...

Journalist, playwright, and poet @alletson.bsky.social joined our podcast to talk about "Julius X," his play that borrows lines, characters, and plot from "Julius Caesar" to tell the story of Malcolm X. He shares the play's origins and his approach to creating art. www.folger.edu/podcasts/sha...

A century after Shakespeare's death, the Shakespeare Ladies Club ensured his original plays were not forgotten. They discussed his works, convinced theaters to produce them, and even campaigned for his statue in Westminster Abbey. Now on the blog: www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

Feed your curiosity, grow your mind, and enjoy smart conversation with the Humanities Lab, a two-session course where you can talk with scholars, get up close with the Folger collection, and see a play. Register today: www.folger.edu/whats-on/hum...

As we rehearse "Julius X" (opening September 23), we're refreshing our memories about "Julius Caesar." How well do you know that classic play? Test your knowledge: www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

Fall is coming and with it the return to school and work, clubs and community meetings, and a new theater season. 🍂 Check out what’s playing at our theater partners across the United States this month. What do you hope to see? www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

Our galleries have a fresh rotation of objects this fall! Nearly 30 new items are on exhibit, including First Folios owned by two 17th-century women, and scripts and programs from a 20th century women’s theater in Japan that’s still performing Shakespeare today. www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

It's almost spooky season! 👻 And the Folger Book Club is getting in the spirit (pun intended) with their first book pick – "A Haunting on the Hill" by Elizabeth Hand. Register to join us for this free discussion on Thursday, October 9 at 6:30pm (ET): www.folger.edu/what.../folg...

"Julius X" is one of @washingtonpost.com 's picks for most promising theater to see this fall! Read more here: www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

The temperatures are cooling, but the Folger's programming is heating up! Take a look at some of the exciting things going on this September. folger.edu/whats-on

Check out our wonderful Dr Simon Smith's recent blog post about the history of Twelfth Night in indoor and outdoor spaces. Available on the @folger.edu blog here: www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes... #twelfthnight #folger #Shakespeare #theatre

Director Rosa Joshi joined the podcast to discuss her bold new staging of "Julius Caesar" at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Performed entirely by women and nonbinary actors, the production reframes Shakespeare's political thriller for today's fight against autocracy. www.folger.edu/podcasts/sha...

Happy International Dog Day from just a few of the four-footed beasts in Edward Topsell's 1607 beastiary. 🐕 🐩 🐕‍🦺 Proof that man's best friend has been a topic of great interests for hundreds of years. 🐾

The school year begins and ends and begins again. But map content is forever. Here's a story in the @umassamherst.bsky.social magazine about the map at @folger.edu I helped to script. (A few obscure jokes made it onto the thumbnail!) -- www.umass.edu/magazine/ext...

New on the blog! In an excerpt from Siobhan Keenan's new biography of actor Richard Burbage, we look at his rise to fame as Shakespeare's "Richard III." www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...

It's the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth this year! Now on the podcast, scholar Patricia A. Matthew discusses editing three Austen novels, thinking about Austen in context, and why her appeal - like Shakespeare's - is timeless. www.folger.edu/podcasts/sha...

Posy rings, engraved on the inside with small verses, were very popular in Shakespeare's time - and receive mentions in both "Hamlet" and "The Merchant of Venice." Folger Artistic Fellow Leah Hampton looks at posies in the Folger vaults. www.folger.edu/blogs/collat...

On the blog, @austintichenor.bsky.social rereads Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels - "with an s like the English poet" - and discovers that the hard-boiled Boston detective's literary roots go even deeper than remembered. www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...