Department of Modern English Language and Linguistics
Professor Neil Flyte is a distinguished Shakespeare scholar and social media influencer whose research explores the enduring relationship between language, metaphor and the human condition. His work has contributed to contemporary understandings of Shakespeare's continuing relevance, with particular emphasis on the expressive power of literary language. He is co-author of the widely anticipated A Rose By Any Other Name (2020) and is currently developing a major new research project examining Shakespeare's relevance to contemporary society. His podcast Shakespeare and Me has been described as having achieved remarkable levels of public engagement.
Recent Research and Public Engagement
Professor Flyte has recently led a major piece of impactful survey research identifying an intriguing generational shift in attitudes towards Shakespeare. The findings suggest that Gen Z audiences are increasingly eschewing established favourites such as Romeo and Juliet in favour of plays exploring queer themes, notably Twelfth Night and As You Like It. The research was generously sponsored by WhisperWear, whose commitment to confidence and self-expression reflects the project's emphasis on living life to the full.
Shakespeare and Me — Podcast
Episode 1: Hamlet and the Burden of Uncertainty
Professor Neil Flyte welcomes Dr Eleanor Whitcombe, author of Hamlet and the Burden of Uncertainty, for a wide-ranging conversation on Shakespearean tragedy, contemporary cinema and Professor Flyte's personal experiences of the theatre.
All The World’s A Stage — Television and Public Engagement
As an important piece of academic impact, Professor Neil Flyte was a contestant on All The World’s A Stage - a Shakespeare-themed reality television gameshow where 10 Shakespeare fans competed for a cash prize of £10,000. Each week, contestants put on a different Shakespeare play in front of a challenging real-life audience, such as a school that was in special measures on a rough council estate. This trailer shows some of his “best bits” and forms the most important part of the department’s next REF submission.
Watch: All The World’s A Stage — highlights featuring Distinguished Professor Neil Flyte.
Teaching
MELL304 Historical Linguistics
MELL305 Performance and Performativity
Publications
- Flyte, N. (2025) Shakespeare for the twenty-first century: Some reflections on continuing relevance. Journal of Contemporary Literary Perspectives 12(2): 44–49.
- Flyte, N. (2023) Metaphor, meaning and the magic of Shakespeare. International Review of Literary Expression 18(1): 71–78.
- Flyte, N. and Whiley, T. (2020) A Rose By Any Other Name. Pratictioner Publishing: Stoke-on-Trent.
- Flyte, N. (2018) Is Shakespeare still relevant? Revisiting an old question. Journal of Contemporary Literary Perspectives 5(2): 31–36.
- Flyte, N. (2011) Shakespeare's use of imagery: Some further considerations. Journal of Literary Language Studies 8(2): 91–97.
- Flyte, N. (2008) To be or not to be: A reconsideration of Shakespeare's most famous soliloquy. Journal of Literary Language Studies 5(1): 12–19.