Culture chat: why do we still love Shakespeare?

Shakespeare turns 460 this year, and this week we’re talking about why he’s still as important as ever. FT Weekend Magazine editor Matt Vella and deputy editor Cordelia Jenkins join Lilah to share what they learned while putting together their recent special, which features Shakespeare mysteries, lore, and some of the UK’s best known theatre actors. We also talk about the experience of watching his plays live. It’s summer, after all, and the outdoor Shakespeare festivals are on, and as the Magazine’s tagline suggests: Shakespeare Lives!

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We love hearing from you. Lilah is on Instagram @lilahrap. We’re on X @lifeandartpod and email at lifeandart@ft.com.

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Shakespeare links (all FT links get you past the paywall):

– Cordelia’s interview with the four actors who played King Lear is here.

– Explore 28 great Shakespeare mysteries here: https://on.ft.com/4ccEz7p

– Unravelling the secret history of the red book of Hamlet: https://on.ft.com/3x5ZFFP

– Who was Shakespeare? What do we really know about his life? https://on.ft.com/4cgvfzm

– Here’s Cordelia’s column on Love Island being like the Elizabethan court: https://on.ft.com/3x6CkDT

– Lilah recommends the new Bat for Lashes album, The Dream of Delphi. Here’s Arwa’s profile of her: https://on.ft.com/4ely8Rc

– Cordelia Jenkins is on X @CordeliaJ. Matt Vella is @mattvella

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Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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