Well, summer is truly here, and with it we’ve got hot weather, BBQs, and fireworks…plus some similarly explosive entertaining dramas. Last time, we asked if you liked theater in addition to television drama, and since a whopping 63% of you told us that you enjoy both, we’ve also got some information on the time-honored Boston tradition of Shakespeare on the Common, plus coverage of a bevy of summery shows you might want to check out.

P.S. Our next several drama Deep Dives will be penned by my esteemed colleague Anna Fort, who has the distinction of being both a drama fan AND originally from the drama capital of the world, that is England. I promise, you’re in great hands!

Parting is such sweet sorrow (but don’t worry, unlike Romeo and Juliet, I’ll be back),

- Jackie Bruleigh, GBH Drama Editor

This is a web edition of GBH's The Deep Dive, a weekly newsletter bringing you the best GBH has to offer.

Sign up here to get it in your inbox.

A Revolutionary New Show

As we come up on the America 250 of our nation’s founding, you might find yourself seeking out a drama set during the American Revolution. Good news: we’ve got a perfect show for you. TURN: Washington’s Spies captures the tense, gritty experience of life as a revolutionary spy with the added bonus of multiple plot points that you’ll half remember from history class.

Shakespeare on the Common: As You Like It

All the world’s a stage, and that’s never been more true than during this yearly outdoor performance on the Boston Common from our friends at the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. Like any good Shakespearean comedy, As You Like It features love stories and shenanigans in equal measure (and fun fact: this play is the origin of the oft quoted line “all the world’s a stage.”) Find out more here, and if you’re looking for even more Shakespeare, don’t miss this full production of Macbeth from the Nashville Shakespeare Festival or this short video (2 min) on translating Shakespeare into American Sign Language.

Don’t Miss the Rest of the Seasons of Grantchester, Patience, and Atlantic Crossing

Don’t worry: I didn’t forget about our summer broadcast lineup! Patience, Grantchester, and Atlantic Crossing are still in full swing. If you’ve missed any episodes, you can catch up on all these shows on the PBS app any time you like.

Even More Drama:

MASTERPIECE will be bringing us a shiny new adaptation of the detective series Maigret starting in October. Curious about the show? Us too, and thankfully, they just dropped a trailer so we can get a sneak peek. Check that out here.

  • Last week marked the 10-year anniversary of Poldark — can you believe it? GBH Drama’s Amanda-Rae Prescott reflected on how the series changed her life. Read that here.
  • Jane Seymour’s latest project is starring as amateur sleuth Harry Wild in a show of the same name. Check out our GBH Drama interview with her here.
  • You may not have heard of the Mitford Sisters, but I can almost guarantee that you’ll end up in a Wikipedia rabbit hole if you look them up. The recently released Outrageous brings their story to the small screen. Read our interview with the show’s screenwriter and director here, and an interview with lead actress Bessie Carter here.

Off Topic

Drama not your thing? Here are 3 other stories the Deep Dive team is loving this week:

  1. As Boston approaches its 400th anniversary, learn about the fascinating history of some of our city’s oldest buildings. Can you guess which ones?
  2. Caregiving: Watch actor Bradley Cooper talk about his experience taking care of his father and other stories in this heartwarming film. 
  3. The New England Aquarium has a “retirement island” for penguins! Join The Culture Show host Jared Bowen on a visit in this short video.