Hamlet

A BBC Radio Production

By: William Shakespeare

Narrated by: Michael Sheen, Kenneth Cranham, Juliet Stevenson, Full Cast

Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

In this BBC full-cast production, the ghost of Hamlet's father orders him to kill the man who took his life, his throne and his wife: Claudius.

In a tale of caution, tragedy and revenge, Hamlet is driven to madness by his mission and his father's legacy.

Michael Sheen stars as Hamlet, with Kenneth Cranham as Claudius, Juliet Stevenson as Gertrude and Ellie Beaven as Ophelia.

BBC radio has a unique heritage when it comes to Shakespeare. Since 1923, when the newly formed company broadcast its first full-length play, generations of actors and producers have honed and perfected the craft of making Shakespeare to be heard.

In this acclaimed BBC Radio Shakespeare series, each play is introduced by Richard Eyre, former Director of the Royal National Theatre. Revitalised, original and comprehensive, this is Shakespeare for the modern day.

©1999 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)1999 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

high marks for this version

I've recently listened to several of the plays and this Hamlet a few times in past couple of weeks and I have to say this is a very good version: well acted, nice production and vigorous performances that I liked for Hamlet and Claudius particularly. The man in Claudius role sounds like James Mason. All in all a good performance. & as much as I respect Gielgud his audio version here feels so slow and ponderous that I have trouble with it. I also like the Branagh film version very much with a couple of caveats, but accessible. All the plays can be performed with such a range of approach that it is informative to pick up on a different intonation/emphasis of even a single word that makes you think, wait a minute, I never realized that aspect before, or that's a new approach. Literally a "poem unlimited."

Very Enjoyable

This is a very good reading of Hamlet and any lover of the material will enjoy it. I especially loved Michael Sheen's characterization of the melancholy dane. He was unstable, angry and emotional. In my opinion, this is exactly how Hamlet SHOULD be played. As I listened I could visualize everything in my head as though I were watching it on a screen. In fact, I am now eager to see Michael Sheen play Hamlet on stage (apparently he will be doing so in London in 2011). I recommend this audiobook version of Hamlet to all Hamlet fans.

For use in my English class

Would you consider the audio edition of BBC Radio Shakespeare to be better than the print version?

No, but I think that reading the play while listening to this enhances the experience, for this fully dramatized version has different actors for all the parts and the sound effects enhance many of the Acts, especially the final battle.

Any additional comments?

I use this audio version in my classroom, and it really helps my students to follow along with the audio as we read the play. The performance is the best version of Hamlet I have heard.

An Excellent Version for Students

Michael Sheen (Hamlet) and Kenneth Cranham (Polonius) give especially memorable performances in a well-executed version of Shakespeare's famous tragedy.

I used this audiobook while studying the play for a university course and found that reading along with the audiobook added depth and understanding to the text.

Well worth it.

Does the job

Michael Sheen is a very good Dane - excitable and passionate. Everyone else is competent but forgettable.

One of the Best

An excellent, well-rounded production. The language was natural to the performers which made it very easy for me to understand what was being said or conveyed, Shakespearean English notwithstanding. I’ve watched or listened to many Hamlets. This is truly one of the best!

I loved this.

Hamlet holds a special place in my goth little heart and I really think this is far and away my favorite adaptation Of any I’ve ever heard. Michael Sheen is a dream. He’s like, the perfect Hamlet. The whole cast, in fact, is just freakin splendid. I’ll be listening to this again and again.

Amazing audiobook, terrible chaptering from Audible

This is an amazing production. It's worth a listen, and another, and another... However, it's broken into 3 "chapters" by Audible, which seems to be randomly assigned, not aligning with acts or even scenes of the play. The same audiobook from my library has useful chapters for each scene. Poor chaptering makes it really hard to revisit favorite scenes and is incredibly frustrating.

I wanted to love it

But just didn't. I think most likely wasn't the material, but the medium. While there was different voices for different characters, it was hard to follow who was saying what and how the story tied together. Probably better read than listened to.