A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Twelfth Night: Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (2 hrs and 11 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Niamh Cusack, Jonathan Firth, Amanda Root, and others

Shakespeare's most sophisticated comedy is a riotous tale of hopelessly unrequited passions and mistaken identity. Duke Orsino is in love with the noblewoman Olivia. She, however, has fallen for his servant Cesario, who is actually Viola, a woman disguised as a man, who loves Orsino: Confusion is rife. Meanwhile, Olivia's arrogant steward Malvolio is cruelly tricked by her uncle Sir Toby Belch, his friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and the maidservant Maria into believing his mistress loves him.

Romeo and Juliet: The Fully Dramatized Audio Edition

• UNABRIDGED (2 hrs and 56 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By full cast

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare creates a tragic world in which two young people fall in love. It is not simply that their families disapprove; the Montagues and the Capulets are engaged in a blood feud. This play, set in an extraordinary world, has become the quintessential story of young love. This new full-cast recording - based on the most respected edition of Shakespeare's classic - expertly produced by the Folger Theatre, is perfect for students, teachers, and the everyday listener.

As You Like It: Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (2 hrs and 27 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Niamh Cusack, Stephen Mangan, Victoria Hamilton, and others

Rosalind, daughter of the deposed Duke Senior, is exiled from the court by her wicked uncle. Disguising herself as a young man and accompanied by her cousin Celia, she takes refuge in the Forest of Arden. In the forest Rosalind meets Orlando with whom she is in love, but her male disguise complicates matters, especially when Rosalind finds she has unwittingly attracted the shepherdess Phebe. But out of the confusion comes reconciliation and forgiveness, and all ends happily.

Richard III: A Fully-Dramatized Audio Production From Folger Theatre

• ORIGINAL (3 hrs and 22 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By full cast

In Richard III, Shakespeare invites us on a moral holiday. The play draws us to identify with Richard and his fantasy of total control of self and domination of others. Not yet king at the start of the play, Richard presents himself as an enterprising villain as he successfully plans to dispose of his brother, Clarence. Richard achieves similar success in conquering the woman he chooses to marry. He carves a way to the throne through assassination and executions.

Macbeth: Fully Dramatized Audio Edition

• ORIGINAL (2 hrs and 12 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By full cast

Macbeth, one of Shakespeare's most popular plays, is among the most powerful and influential tragedies in the English language. Promised a golden future as ruler of Scotland by three sinister witches, Macbeth murders the king in order to succeed to the throne. Tortured by his conscience and fearful of discovery, he becomes fatally enmeshed in a web of treachery and deceit.

Hamlet: Fully Dramatized Audio Edition

• ORIGINAL (3 hrs and 32 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By full cast

Hamlet, Shakespeare's most popular, and perhaps most puzzling play, follows the form of a "revenge tragedy", in which the hero, Hamlet, seeks vengeance against his father’s murderer, his uncle Claudius, now the king of Denmark. Much of its fascination, however, lies in its uncertainties. This new full-cast recording - based on the most respected edition of Shakespeare's classic - expertly produced by the Folger Theatre, is perfect for students, teachers, and the everyday listener.

Much Ado about Nothing: Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (2 hrs and 8 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Saskia Reeves, Samuel West, Paul Jesson, and others

Young Claudio has fallen for the lovely heiress Hero, who also loves him. Their path to the altar looks smooth, until the evil Don John intervenes. All ends happily, thanks to his incompetent assassins and the lucky discoveries of the bungling constable Dogberry. Central to the play, one of Shakespeare's best-loved comedies, are Beatrice and Benedick, masters of wit and sworn foes to marriage - until a plot is hatched to bring them together.

The Tempest

• UNABRIDGED (2 hrs and 7 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Ian McKellen, Emilia Fox, Scott Handy, and others
• Whispersync for Voice-ready

Sir Ian McKellen, fresh from his performance as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, is Prospero, and heads a strong cast in Shakespeare’s last great play. The wronged duke raises a tempest to shipwreck his old opponents on his island so that he can ensure justice is done. With Emilia Fox as Miranda, Scott Handy in the pivotal role of the sprite Ariel, and Ben Owukwe as Caliban.

The Merchant of Venice: Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (2 hrs and 16 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Trevor Peacock, Bill Nighy, Haydn Gwynne, and others

In Shakespeare's most controversial play, the opposing values of justice and mercy must be resolved. Antonio promises money to help his friend Bassanio woo Portia. He borrows the sum needed from the cruel Shylock, but there will be a dreadful penalty if the loan is not repaid. The golden world of Portia's Belmont calls forth some of Shakespeare's most lyrical love poetry. But the dark shadow of Shylock is never far from the heart of this brilliant comedy as it moves toward its courtroom climax.

The Tempest: Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (2 hrs and 11 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Jennifer Ehle, Adrian Lester, Bob Peck, and others

This haunting drama of vengeance and forgiveness crowns the group of tragicomic romances that Shakespeare composed at the end of his career. Sometimes read as his farewell to the stage, the play contains some of Shakespeare's most lyrical verse. Prospero, wise Duke of Milan, has been deposed by Antonio, his wicked brother, and exiled with his daughter Miranda to a mysterious island. But Prospero possesses supernatural powers. Aided by the spirit Ariel, Prospero uses his magical art to bring his enemies under his control.

Hamlet: The Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (3 hrs and 25 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Simon Russell Beale, Imogen Stubbs, Jane Lapotaire, and others

Distressed by his father's death and his mother's over-hasty remarriage, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is faced by a specter from beyond the grave bearing a grim message of murder and revenge. The young prince is driven to the edge of madness by his struggle to understand the situation he finds himself in and to do his duty. Many others, including Hamlet's beloved, the innocent Ophelia, are swept up in his tragedy.

Othello: Fully Dramatized Audio Edition

• ORIGINAL (2 hrs and 59 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By full cast

In Othello, Shakespeare creates powerful drama from a marriage between the exotic Moor Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona. Shakespeare builds many differences into his hero and heroine, including race, age, and cultural background. Yet most audiences believe the couple’s strong love would overcome these differences were it not for Iago, who sets out to destroy Othello.

The Taming of the Shrew: Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (2 hrs and 17 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Frances Barber, Roger Allam, Alan Cox

Padua holds many suitors for the hand of fair Bianca, but Bianca may not be married until her spinster sister, Kate, is wed. Could any man be rash enough to take on Kate? The witty adventurer Petruchio undertakes the task. While he sets about transforming Kate from foul-tempered termagant to loving wife, young Lucentio and his clever servant, Tranio, plot to win Bianca.

Henry IV, Part 1: Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (2 hrs and 46 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Jamie Glover, Julian Glover, Richard Griffiths

While King Henry's England is threatened by rebellion, the king's scapegrace son Hal haunts the taverns of London, his companions a crew of rogues and thieves let by Falstaff. The earl of Northumberland and his fiery son Hotspur scheme to overthrow the crown. Can Hal be brought to a sense of duty as Prince of Wales? Or will the influence of Falstaff prove too strong? The issue is decided when Hal, Hotspur, and Falstaff come together at the climactic battle of Shrewsbury.

Julius Caesar: A Fully-Dramatized Audio Production From Folger Theatre

• ORIGINAL (2 hrs and 21 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By full cast

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.

King Lear: Arkangel Shakespeare

• UNABRIDGED (3 hrs and 8 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Trevor Peacock, Clive Merrison, full cast

This shattering drama of isolation and loss is one of the greatest tragedies in world literature. King Lear of Britain has three daughters: the hard-hearted Goneril and Regan, and the good and gentle Cordelia. He determines to divide his kingdom between them, giving the largest share to she who can say she loves him the best. Lear's tragic lack of judgment and self-knowledge is paralleled by the blindness of the loyal Gloucester who is persuaded to reject his virtuous son, Edgar, in favor of the villainous Edmund.

Antony and Cleopatra: Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (3 hrs and 22 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Estelle Kohler, Ciaran Hinds, Ian Hughes, and others

Mark Antony, one of the three rulers of the Roman world, has become the thrall of the fascinating Cleopatra. Affairs of state call him to Rome, but the attractions of the queen of Egypt prove impossible to resist. From one of history's greatest love stories Shakespeare builds this magnificent tragedy of the clash between love and duty.

Julius Caesar: The Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (2 hrs and 26 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Michael Feast, John Bowe, Adrian Lester

At the heart of this tragic history is one of Shakespeare's most noble characters, the statesman Brutus, who is caught in a devastating conflict between private affection and public duty.

Julius Caesar has become the most powerful man in the Rome. Does his power now threaten the very existence of the Republic itself? A conspiracy is hatched, one that will have fatal consequences not only for Caesar and the conspirators but for the future history of the ancient world.

The Comedy of Errors: Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (1 hr and 27 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By David Tennant, Brendan Coyle, Alan Cox, and others

Chaos and confusion mount to a crescendo in a wild and fast-paced comedy of mistaken identity, one of Shakespeare's earliest plays. Young Antipholus of Syracuse is searching the world for his identical twin brother, separated from him at birth. With him is his servant Dromio, who lost his twin brother at the same time. The pair arrive in Ephesus where, unbeknownst to them, their twins are living.

Richard II: Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (2 hrs and 52 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Rupert Graves, Julian Glover, John Wood

The sensitive and poetic Richard II is undoubtedly the rightful king of England but he is unscrupulous and weak. When his cousin Henry Bolingbroke returns from banishment and mounts a challenge to his authority, Richard's right to the throne proves of little help to him. Richard is forced to abdicate, but as his power is stripped away, he gains dignity and self-awareness, and he meets his death heroically.

Measure for Measure: The Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (2 hrs and 28 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Simon Russell Beale, Roger Allam, Stella Gonet

Telling his followers he is leaving the city on affairs of state, the Duke of Vienna appoints the puritanical Angelo to govern in his absence. Will Angelo prove as virtuous as he seems once power is in his hands? Roaming the city disguised as a friar, the duke looks on as Angelo's lust for the virtuous Isabella sweeps him into the corruption he has so sternly condemned in others. The duke's manipulation at last produces a happy ending for this dark comedy, with its brilliant exploration of the themes of justice and mercy.

Romeo and Juliet: Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (3 hrs and 2 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Joseph Fiennes, Maria Miles, Elizabeth Spriggs

In the world's most celebrated and lyrical love story, the sublime devotion of two young lovers transcends their earthly fate. The noble Veronese houses of Montague and Capulet are locked in a bitter feud. When Romeo (a Montague) and Juliet (a Capulet) fall in love, they are swept up in a series of violent events and cruel twists of fortune. Despite the passion and innocence of their love, they fall victim to the enmity between their families, and their story ends in tragedy.

Othello: Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (3 hrs and 1 min)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Don Warrington, David Threlfall, Anne-Marie Duff, and others

Othello, a Moorish general in the service of Venice, has married Desdemona, beautiful daughter of a Venetian senator. But Iago, Othello's malignant ensign, is determined to destroy their happiness. Cunningly bending Othello to his own purposes, Iago persuades the Moor that Desdemona is unfaithful to him. Tormented in a hell of jealousy, Othello moves inexorably toward the destruction of his innocent wife and himself.

Henry V: Arkangel Shakespeare

• ORIGINAL (3 hrs and 10 mins)
• By William Shakespeare
• Narrated By Jamie Glover, Brian Cox, Elizabeth Spriggs

Henry V is a study of kingship, patriotism, and heroic determination tempered by tender comedy as Henry courts Katherine, princess of France. Henry, the noble and courageous young king of England, decides to invade France, believing he has a rightful claim to the throne. At Agincourt he leads his army into battle against the powerful French forces and, against all the odds, wins a famous victory.