Showing results by author "William Shakespeare" in All Categories

All of the Shakespeare plays within the Argo Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations.

WARNING!! Check your surroundings before listening to this book as you may fall over from laughing. As part of his new Solo Folio Series; Author, audiobook narrator and ardent Shakespeare lover Luke Daniels takes on The Merry Wives of Windsor, as only he can. As well as being suitable for use as a production script this wild and raucous, slapstick comedy has been faithfully transcribed from the 1602 Quarto publication and includes the original Elizabethan spellings.

A bestselling, beautifully designed edition of William Shakespeare’s sonnets, complete with valuable tools for educators. The authoritative edition of Shakespeare’s Sonnets from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers...

Step into the haunting world of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, a timeless tragedy by William Shakespeare. This gripping tale unfolds in the Kingdom of Denmark, where Prince Hamlet seeks revenge against his treacherous uncle Claudius, who has murdered Hamlets father, seized the throne, and married Gertrude, Hamlets mother. With its rich exploration of genuine and feigned madness, the play delves into themes of betrayal, vengeance, incest, and moral decay, making it a profound reflection on the human condition. (Summary by Wikipedia)

No play in William Shakespeares oeuvre is as polarizing as his first tragedy, Titus Andronicus. This harrowing tale follows the titular Roman general, who returns home after a brutal decade-long campaign against the Goths, only to reject the emperorship and ignite a horrific cycle of vengeance. When Titus orders the execution of Tamora, Queen of the Goths eldest son, he sets off a chain reaction of violence that spirals into a nightmarish symphony of bloodshed and retribution, as both Titus and Tamora are engulfed in their own tragic flaws. Shakespeare skillfully draws on the revenge tragedy ...

Shakespeares fascination with Roman history comes alive in his gripping tragedy, Coriolanus, likely penned between 1605 and 1607. The play chronicles the tumultuous journey of Caius Martius, a formidable Roman general who earns the title Coriolanus after his triumph at Corioli. What sets this work apart is its powerful representation of the common citizens of Rome. As the narrative unfolds, we witness their uprising over soaring food prices and their ongoing conflict with Coriolanus, whose disdain for the plebeians fuels the drama. Join us as we explore themes of power, pride, and the voice of...

Step into the world of Shakespeares timeless tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, where two young lovers are caught in the crossfire of their feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Their chance meeting at a grand party ignites an instant and passionate love, but the harsh reality of their families animosity looms large. Defying their parents, the star-crossed lovers secretly marry with the help of the devoted Friar Lawrence. Yet, as with all great love stories, their path is fraught with peril, forcing them to confront the ultimate sacrifice for their love. Join us for a journey filled with ...

Antony and Cleopatra, a timeless tragedy by William Shakespeare, is believed to have been penned between 1603 and 1607 and was first published in the First Folio of 1623. This captivating tale draws from Thomas Norths translation of Plutarchs Life of Marcus Antonius, chronicling the tumultuous relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony, spanning the Parthian War to Cleopatras tragic demise. The formidable antagonist, Octavius Caesar—Antonys fellow triumvir and the future first emperor of Rome—adds depth to this gripping narrative. Set against the backdrop of ancient Rome, the play ...

Dive into the tumultuous reign of John, King of England, in William Shakespeares powerful history play, The Life and Death of King John. This gripping drama, believed to have been penned in the mid-1590s and published in the First Folio of 1623, chronicles the life of John Lackland, who ruled from 1199 until his death in 1216. As the son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, Johns rule was marked by the catastrophic loss of Normandy to King Philip II of France in 1204, leading to the disintegration of the Angevin Empire and the rise of the Capetian dynasty. The latter part of Johns reign ...

William Shakespeares Macbeth is a haunting exploration of ambition and moral decay. Set against the backdrop of Scotland, this powerful tragedy reveals the devastating psychological and political consequences that arise when Macbeth, a noble lord, succumbs to his dark desires for power. After committing regicide to seize the throne, his descent into tyranny and madness spirals into a realm of violence and civil unrest. Ultimately, Macbeths insatiable hunger for control leads to his own downfall, stripping him of everything that once gave his life meaning. (Summary by Wikipedia)

Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston star in Shakespeare's tragedy of love and power. As part of BBC Radio 3's celebration of the 450th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare, Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston star in this brand-new production. Lovers, politicians, superstars... Antony & Cleopatra is Shakespeare’s late and epic tragedy of mature love, and the catastrophic fall from grace and power that it brings about.

Infamously known as the cursed Scottish play, Macbeth is perhaps Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy. When General Macbeth is foretold by three witches that he will one day be King of Scotland, Lady Macbeth convinces him to get rid of anyone who could stand in his way – including committing regicide. As Macbeth ascends to the throne through bloody murder, he becomes a tyrant consumed by fear and paranoia.

Twelve dramatisations of the best love stories ever written, performed by star casts Treat yourself to this stunning collection of classic stories of love, loss, obstacles overcome and desperate attraction. This is a beautiful, moving and at times thrilling listen which takes you on a journey...

The young king of Navarre and three of his courtiers have vowed to lock themselves away for three years of study and fasting, and to forswear the company of women for this period. No sooner is their vow made than it is tested, however, as the princess of France and three of her ladies arrive in Navarre on a diplomatic mission. The young men fall instantly and hopelessly in love, and the tension between their vow and their passion forms the subject of this charming and sparkling early comedy.

In this BBC full-cast production, Julius Caesar is triumphant after his victory over the sons of Pompey. But as bad omens and weather plague Rome, even his most loyal friends are starting to see the signs... Political intrigue and fierce battle rage in this tense and dynamic production in which...

In this BBC full-cast production of Richard II, the male ego and narcissism of monarchs are hung out to dry... Written entirely in verse, the rhythms of the language in this epic tragedy encompass its themes of dignity and kingship with fitting grandeur and pathos, as the capricious and...

This classic Shakespearean comedy is presented here in a colorful full-cast dramatization, drawn from the complete text and starring Warren Mitchell, Michael Maloney, and Sarah Woodward.

FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY The World’s Leading Center for Shakespeare Studies The Folger Shakespeare Library, home to the world’s largest Shakespeare collection, brings Romeo and Juliet to life with this new full-length, full-cast dramatic recording of its definitive Folger Edition. In Romeo...

A collection of BBC Radio 3's iconic Shakespeare productions: eight comedies with all-star casts including David Tennant, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne-Marie Duff, Martin Jarvis, Siân Phillips and Miriam Margolyes. The plays included in this collection are: Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night, The Tempest, The Taming of the Shrew, and All's Well That Ends Well.

For anyone who's in love - or hopes to be - what greater celebration could there be than to hear the world's greatest love poetry read lovingly by Richard Armitage? With 13 poems by William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and more, Classic Love Poems is a listening treat for Valentine's Day - or any day.