Showing results by author "William Shakespeare" in All Categories

Сomedy A Midsummer's Night Dream is a wonderful piece of work written by a genius English playwright William Shakespeare. Three very amusing stories tightly connected with each other fascinate the reader with a numerous love adventures. The reason for that is a potion of a forest spirit Puck. William Shakespeare is the author of the world famous sonnets and plays Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth and Othello, as well as comedies Twelfth Night, A Midsummer's Night Dream, Love's Labour's Lost, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Two Gentlemen of Verona and As You Like It.

A Shakespeare Society Production. The complete play in five acts...

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. Set in the Kingdom of Denmark, the play dramatises the revenge Prince Hamlet is instructed to exact on his uncle Claudius. Claudius had murdered his own brother, Hamlet's father King Hamlet, and subsequently seized the throne, marrying his deceased brother's widow, Hamlet's mother Gertrude. Denmark has a long-standing feud with neighboring Norway, which culminated when King Hamlet slew King Fortinbras of Norway in a climactic battle years ago.

As You Like It follows its heroine, Rosalind, as she flees persecution in her uncle's court, accompanied by her cousin Celia to find safety and, eventually, love in the Forest of Arden. This edition is an adaptation of Shakespeare's eponymous comedy, narrated in plain modern English, capturing the very essence and key elements of the original Shakespeare's drama. Read in English, unabridged.

Troilus and Cressida is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1602. It was described by Frederick S. Boas as one of Shakespeare's problem plays. The play ends on a very bleak note with the death of the noble Trojan Hector and destruction of the love between Troilus and Cressida. The work has in recent years "stimulated exceptionally lively critical debate". Throughout the play, the tone lurches wildly between bawdy comedy and tragic gloom, and readers and theatre-goers have frequently found it difficult to understand how one is meant to respond to the characters.

Dive into William Shakespeares Richard II, the first of eight captivating plays that chronicles the tumultuous events of the War of the Roses, spanning from around 1365 to the death of Richard III in 1485. This engaging rendition, narrated by Cori and enriched by the editing talents of J. M. Smallheer and John Gonzalez, features an impressive cast bringing to life a diverse array of characters. Experience the political intrigue and personal struggles of royalty and nobility through the voices of talented actors, including Annie Coleman as the Narrator and Peter Yearsley as King Richard II. ...

Dive into the captivating world of Shakespeares Richard II, often heralded by scholars as the first act in the sweeping saga of the Henriad. This play offers a profound exploration of the nature of monarchy, illustrating the transition from the divine right of kings to a more politically savvy approach. Shakespeare presents Richard as a tragic figure, whose failures as a ruler are starkly highlighted through his mishandling of a judicial duel and his unscrupulous seizing of funds for an Irish campaign. In stark contrast stands Henry Bolingbroke, the cunning opportunist who gathers enough ...

Shakespeare's most celebrated and shortest tragedy. This cast performance is by the Marlowe Society.

This is an adapted version of William Shakespeare's Cymbeline. It is abridged and in plain English rather than full Shakespearean language. Most position Cymbeline as a tragedy, though others consider it a romance or possibly a comedy. It is believed to have been written in the early 1600s. The romance features the king's daughter, while the Queen plots, and the king's sons were believed lost decades ago as infants. This version is adapted by Hazel Jeffs, offering an engaging retelling of this classic tale.

Double-meanings, disguises and dirty laundry abound as Sir John Falstaff sets about improving his financial situation by wooing Mistress Page and Mistress Ford. But the ‘Merry Wives’ quickly cotton on to his tricks and decide to have a bit of fun of their own at Falstaff’s expense.

Enjoy these sonnets by Shakespeare, which are voiced by a range of memorable characters.

This version of Shakespeare's classic comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor is adapted to plain English. This is one of Shakespeare's comedies first published in the early 1600s. This adaptation is simplified in plain English and targeted at a younger audience. The plot tells the story of the romantic aspirations of the greedy and immoral Falstaff as he pursues the attentions of multiple women. Various plots are launched to try and foil his plans.

Originally published in 1634 and believed to be Shakespeare's final play, Two Noble Kinsmen is a tragedy with romantic themes. The play is based on a story from Chaucer (The Knight's Tale). Themes include war, love, banishment, obsession and madness. This adaptation by playwright Hazel Jeffs converts Shakespeare's work into more accessible plain English.

Here is a full-cast, unabridged performance with comprehensive commentary and analysis for any student to fully understand and appreciate the play. Soak up the atmosphere of ancient Rome. Decide for yourself whether Caesar's power and ambition was a threat to the Republic, and whether assassination can ever be justified.

Sir Michael Morpurgo retells two of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer’s Night Dream, in this stunning audio collection in association with the RSC, featuring readings by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Michael himself. Translating these iconic plays into thrilling prose, the nation’s favourite storyteller preserves all the imaginative genius and spark of the originals, while bringing a contemporary and vibrant voice to their retelling.

An audio adaptation of the classic Shakespeare drama. Pericles is at the palace of Antioch with King Antiochus to solve the riddle that will win the King’s daughter’s hand in marriage. They are surrounded by the heads of men who have died trying before him. Pericles solves the riddle, learning the terrible truth about the incestuous relationship between the Princess and the King. Pericles flees Antioch, fearing Antiochus’ wrath.

The Tragedy of King Richard the Second tells the dramatic and bloody story of the king's fall and the ascension of Bolingbroke as Henry IV.

William Shakespeare is of course England's greatest play right and revered the World over. The Merchant of Venice is a masterly tale and is on a par with many of his other works. In his creation of Venice Shakespeare revels in his characters and story. Perhaps best well known for the creation of the character Shylock in a world of money lending the play has survived admirably down the years. This play is performed by a quite magnificent cast and in the lead role of Shylock we have Michael Redgrave.

A violent storm shipwrecks the King of Naples and his noblemen on what appears to be an uninhabited island. They don't know that they have been brought here by powerful magic. Prospero, the mysterious ruler of the island, has a plan, but will he use his magic for revenge or for reconciliation? His daughter, Miranda, has never seen another man except her father. What will she think of the stranger who stumbles into her life? Will Propsero's monstrous servant, Caliban, succeed in overthrowing his master?

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?