The Tudor Tarantino
This is an edited version of this programme.
Dominic Arkwright charts the rise and fall of Thomas Middleton, the bad boy of Renaissance drama.
He wrote stories of murder, incest and sexual blackmail in the backstreets of London and was hugely popular in his day, occasionally outselling Shakespeare at the box office. So why were his plays banned from the stage for over 300 years?
Gary Taylor, editor of The Complete Middleton, argues that this dangerous genius was just too controversial to survive and thrive. Shakespeare's stories of kings and queens, of hope and redemption, outlasted the disturbing visions of the troublemaker Middleton. But more controversial is the claim that Middleton had a hand in the Bard's success.
Producer: John Byrne
First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 in May 2010.
