Performing Shakespeare

Shakespeare's life, despite the scrutiny of generations of biographers and scholars, is still a thicket of myths and traditions, some preposterous, some conflicting, arranged around the few scant facts known about the Bard: from his birth in Stratford to the bequest of his second best bed to his wife when he died.

Comedy, tragedy and folklore are played out in this quartet, all of which utilise the masque in unique and revelatory ways. Performed by an incredible array of the 20th century’s greatest actors, Marlowe alumni including Ian McKellen, Prunella Scales, Michael Hordern and Patrick Wymark can be heard in these recordings.

Full cast stage drama of Shakespeare's Macbeth recorded in the 1950s and starring Alec Guinness and Pamela Brown.

A power-hungry general, his crazed wife, three interfering witches and some terrifying ghosts... Listen on, through murder and mayhem, to discover the gripping story of Macbeth, one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies. As well as the story, this audiobook contains information about the background to Macbeth, its major themes, language, and Shakespeare's life during the time he was writing the play. Witches and witchcraft in 16th century England are also examined, to give the context in which the play was written.

The first volume of David Timson's series retelling of the stories from Shakespeare's plays was widely praised by newspaper and educators alike. Here is volume 2, with more key plays. Including Julius Caesar, The Merchant of Venice, and Henry IV, all texts which regularly appear on the exam syllabus. As before, the stories are illustrated by numerous examples from the plays themselves. They are read by two leading Shakespearean actors, Juliet Stevenson and Alex Jennings.

Sir Michael Morpurgo retells two of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, King Lear and Henry V, in this stunning audio collection in association with the RSC, featuring readings by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Michael himself.

As You Like It is one of Shakespeare's comedies featuring women dressed as men, brothers reconciling, and wrongs put to right.

The fair Rosalind falls in love with the strong Orlando and Rosalind's companion to Orlando's brother. Told here as a fairy tale, it makes a perfect introduction to Shakespeare for youngsters and the uninitiated alike.

Sobre la figura de Shakespeare se sabe muy poco y se ha especulado mucho, probablemente demasiado. Con su habitual sabiduría, ironía y buen gusto, Bill Bryson prefiere explicarnos los hechos probados de la vida y la época de Shakespeare, y desmonta muchos de los mitos que lo rodean. Gracias a ello, este audiolibro es quizás la mejor manera de introducirse en el universo del genial dramaturgo inglés.

A retelling of Shakespeare's most famous comedy, made accessible to younger listeners but still true to the Bard's verse and vocabulary. Mischief is in the air when the King and Queen of the Fairies quarrel, and Puck is left in charge of the love potion. Four young people are lost in the woods on midsummer's night. Will they find each other and true love, or will Puck's meddling leave them broken hearted and alone?

Wealthy and popular, Timon of Athens helps his friends, gives many gifts and holds a feast. After ignoring his true friends' warnings, Timon runs out of money and none of his 'friends' will help him. He runs away to a cave where he curses humanity, finds gold, funds someone to destroy Athens and dies.

Peter Ackroyd's insightful new biography positions Shakespeare in the close context of his world. In this way, Ackroyd not only richly conjures up the texture of Shakespeare's life, but also imparts an amazing amount of vivid, interesting material about place, period and background. Walk with Ackroyd through sixteenth century London and Stratford as he uncovers the intimate circumstances of Shakespeare's life.

This entertaining introduction to Shakespeare's work weaves biographical information with excerpts from 33 of his plays. Informative, well-researched commentary, written by two Royal Shakespeare Company actors, provides a glimpse of the man and little-known lore about his work.

A fairy king, his queen and their servants cause chaos and confusion between four young people in Ancient Greece... Listen on, through magic and mischief, to discover the hilarious story at the heart of A Midsummer Night's Dream, one of Shakespeare's best-loved plays. As well as the story, this audiobook contains information about the background to A Midsummer Night's Dream, its major themes, language, and Shakespeare's life during the time he was writing the play.

King Cymbeline of Britain banishes his daughter Imogen's husband, who then makes a bet on Imogen's fidelity. Imogen is accused of being unfaithful, runs away and becomes a page for the Roman army as it invades Britain. In the end, Imogen clears her name, discovers her long-lost brothers and reunites with her husband while Cymbeline makes peace with Rome.

Tales from Shakespeare is a children's book which makes the stories of Shakespeare's plays familiar to the young. Shakespeare's exact words are used whenever it seemed possible to bring them in, meticulous care has been taken to select such words as might least disturb the effect of the beautiful English tongue in which he wrote.

Witches with magical omens. Murder most foul. The quest for power at all costs. Bloody and spectacular battles. This modern retelling of Macbeth captures all the drama of Shakespeare's classic play. Written by an outstanding scholar, the language is simple yet eloquent, and draws young readers into the story with superb dialogue, vivid description, and careful attention to the flow of events.

The true story of how the First Folio creators made ‘Shakespeare’. 2023 marks the 400-year anniversary of Mr William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, known today simply as the First Folio. It is difficult to imagine a world without The Tempest, Twelfth Night, Antony and Cleopatra, The Winter’s Tale, and Macbeth, but these are just some of the plays which were only preserved thanks to the astounding labour of love that went into creating the first collection.

Mistaken identities, jealous relatives, lovers' quarrels and a happy ending... Discover the entertaining story at the heart of Much Ado About Nothing, one of Shakespeare's best-loved comedies. As well as the story, this audiobook contains information about the background to Much Ado About Nothing, its major themes, language, and Shakespeare's life during the time he was writing the play. Gossip, and its role in society in 16th century England, is also examined, to give some context in which the play was written.

With detailed plot summaries and an in-depth analysis of the major characters and themes, this is a brilliant, innovative exploration of the entire canon of Shakespeare plays, sonnets and poetry, from the comedies of Twelfth Night and As You Like It to the tragedies of Julius Caesar and Hamlet, plus lost plays and lesser known works of poetry. Packed with witty anecdotes and memorable quotes, The Shakespeare Book, with Roger May's narration, brings the Bard's best-loved characters and story lines to life.

Jealous conspirators convince Caesar's friend Brutus to join their assassination plot against Caesar. To stop Caesar from gaining too much power, Brutus and the conspirators kill him on the Ides of March. Mark Antony drives the conspirators out of Rome and fights them in a battle. Brutus and his friend Cassius lose and kill themselves, leaving Antony to rule in Rome.