Showing results by author "William Shakespeare" in All Categories

Dive into the turbulent world of Henry VI, Part 2, a captivating history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been penned in 1591. Set against the backdrop of King Henry VIs reign, this compelling narrative explores the Kings struggle to maintain order amid a fractious nobility, the tragic demise of his loyal advisor Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, and the ominous rise of the Duke of York. As the stage is set for the First Battle of St Albans, this play reveals a kingdom on the brink of civil war. The discord between powerful figures, such as Humphrey and Henry Beaufort, Bishop of ...

In 2012, the World Shakespeare Festival conducted a survey to discover the favorite plays of Britons. This captivating collection features 21 unforgettable scenes from Shakespeares most beloved works, paying tribute to the genius of the Bard as we commemorate the 400th anniversary of his passing in 1616—the Shakespeare Quadricentennial. Join us in this celebration of literary brilliance, brought to life by the talented performances of Beth Thomas, Michele Eaton, Sonia, Tony Addison, and John Burlinson, with editing by Michele Eaton and John Burlinson. - Summary by John Burlinson

Dive into the enchanting world of Shakespeare with our Wooing, Wedding, and Repenting collection, inspired by a memorable line from Much Ado About Nothing. This compilation features captivating scenes from some of Shakespeares most beloved plays, showcasing intimate dialogues between pairs of characters. Experience the artistry of language and emotion as performed by talented narrators, including Tiffany Halla Colonna, Winston Tharp, Algy Pug, Arielle Lipshaw, and Elizabeth Klett in Henry V and The Tempest. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)

Henry VI, Part 3, also known as The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, is a gripping history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been penned in 1591. Set against the backdrop of King Henry VIs tumultuous reign, this installment delves into the devastating chaos of the Wars of the Roses. While 1 Henry VI portrays the loss of French territories and 2 Henry VI highlights the kings struggle to manage his fractious nobles, 3 Henry VI vividly depicts the brutal realities of civil war. Families are torn apart, moral boundaries are shattered, and the quest for power leads to unimaginable horror. ...

Cymbeline is a captivating late romance by Shakespeare, weaving together elements of comedy and tragedy much like The Tempest and The Winters Tale. The story follows Imogen, the spirited daughter of King Cymbeline of Britain, who defies her fathers wishes by marrying the noble but impoverished Posthumus. When the King banishes Posthumus, he travels to Rome, where he falls victim to the deceitful Iachimo, who seeks to sow seeds of doubt about Imogens loyalty. Meanwhile, the scheming Queen, Imogens stepmother, conspires to marry her daughter off to her good-for-nothing son, Cloten. As love, ...

The Yorkists have been temporarily victorious and the Duke of York has assumed the throne, but the Lancastrians, led by Queen Margaret, counter-attack. As the fortunes of war shift, both the innocent and the guilty are swept up in the maelstrom. And increasingly dominant amid the chaos is the sinister figure of the crook-backed Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

These two great poems date from Shakespeare’s early years and are full of passion and invention. In Venus and Adonis, the goddess of love pleads with the beautiful boy to submit to her advances and become her love - but he only wants to hunt boar. In the more serious Rape of Lucrece, Shakespeare draws on the Roman tale of the Emperor Tarquin’s desire for Lucrece and its tragic consequencies. These poems give prominent parts to the two heroines, and Clare Corbett and Eve Best shine.

The collection contains eight of Shakespeare’s best loved comedies. Each exhibits the vigour, humour, and optimism of the young master before he turned to the gloom and bitterness of the great tragedies.

A pair of star-cross'd lovers -Prologue Romeo and Juliet was Shakespeare's first great tragedy, a richly lyrical love story that has long been one of the author's most popular plays for performer and audience alike. Romeo and Juliet is a simple but dramatic cautionary tale about the blindness...

Written over four hundred years ago, ‘Hamlet’ still remains one of the most powerful, influential and thrilling tragedies in the English language. The story of Prince Hamlet and his quest for vengeance has been interpreted countless times on stage, film and television. With its riveting...

Sir John Gielgud talks about the plot of Shakespeare's tragedy interspersed with his performance in the lead role.

The Folger Shakespeare Library, home to the world’s largest Shakespeare collection, brings Julius Caesar to life with this new full-length, full-cast dramatic recording of its definitive Folger Edition. Shakespeare may have written Julius Caesar as the first of his plays to be performed at the...

A romance between a Roman general and the Queen of Egypt was never going to be easy. Marc Antony has abandoned his duties since he has fallen in love with Cleopatra. But as war looms, their union shifts from difficult to doomed...

Experience Twelfth Night as a powerful full-cast drama with entertaining and enlightening commentary that explains what's what and who's who as the plot unfolds. To help you get the most out of Shakespeare, the narrator offers historical insights and background information, so you can enjoy the jokes, appreciate the references, and get a real sense of Shakespeare's world.

The skies over ancient Rome blaze with terrifying portents, and soothsayers warn Julius Caesar of approaching doom. As conspiracy swirls through the city, Shakespeare explores the deep repercussions of political murder on the human heart. A classic tale of duplicity, betrayal and murder, masterfully performed by an all-star, all-American cast in this BBC co-production.

Twelfth Night centres on the twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola, disguised as Cesario, falls in love with Duke Orsino, who in turn is in love with the Countess Olivia. Upon meeting Viola, Countess Olivia falls in love with her, thinking she is a man.

The multi-award winning SmartPass full-cast, unabridged performance with comprehensive commentary and analysis for any student to fully understand and appreciate the play.

A BBC Radio 3 full-cast dramatisation of Shakespeare’s classic ‘Cymbeline’, starring Bill Wallis. Originally broadcast in December 2006 as part of the ‘Drama on 3’ collection. Shakespeare's play, set during the Roman invasion of Britain, centres around the banishment of the man who...

Bianca is beautiful and demure, with a plethora of would-be suitors, but marriage is forbidden until her older sister, Katherina, finds a suitable match. The hitch? Fiery Katherina has sworn to deny the hand or demands of any would-be suitor. That is, until she meets her match in the wily Petrucio. As Katherina’s own sharp tongue is met by Petrucio’s feigned cruelty, the ‘shrew’ apparently capitulates. Or does she?

King Richard II rules England in a wasteful and short-sighted way, spending money unwisely and selecting his counsellors foolishly. His manner ostracises him from his people and his country and it’s not long before both commoners and noblemen feel Richard has gone too far. When Richard seizes land that rightfully belongs to his cousin Henry Bolingbroke, Bolingbroke retaliates by invading England while Richard is at war in Ireland. More popular with the commoners, Henry is eventually crowned King Henry IV.