AuthorWilliam Shakespeare
NarratorVarious
Duration2h 53m
CategoriesAdult Fiction, Plays and Dramatisations
Key StageKS4
PublisherAudio Go Ltd
VersionAbridged
A BBC Radio 3 full-cast enactment of Shakespeare's last great tragedy, Antony and Cleopatra, with David Harewood and Frances Barber in the title roles. Originally broadcast as part of the 'Drama on 3' series on 27 June 2010. Telling the story of one of history's most famous couples, Antony and Cleopatra contains some of the most beautiful poetry in the English Language. Shakespeare's last great tragedy is an epic play of action set against a huge political and geographical backdrop, but at the centre of the play is a story about what happens when two people fall in love. In this play, love is a madness that leads to excess and imbalance. Antony and Cleopatra are middle-aged people who have loved before and often, and they seize this late love as if it is their last chance. Their love possesses them and destroys all rational behaviour. Antony and Cleopatra live their lives in public and wield tremendous power. Both are preoccupied with the figure they will cut in history, but they are also driven by common human emotions. Shakespeare shows that great natures can produce great vices as well as great virtues-we see their vanity, cruelty and irresponsibility. Like glamorous stars, Antony and Cleopatra are both deeply attractive and open to harsh judgement. Starring Frances Barber as Cleopatra, David Harewood as Mark Antony, Roger Allam as Enobarbus and Colin Tierney as Ocatavius Caesar. Also featured in the cast are Ewan Hooper, Amanda Root, Garry Cooper, Claire Rushbrook, Helen Longworth, Paul Hilton, Ben Onwukwe and Martin Hyder. With original music composed by Sylvia Hallett, the play was directed by Mary Peate.
Romeo and Juliet - Smartpass Study Guide
Author: William Shakespeare
Author William Shakespeare
Narrator Various
Duration 5h
A study guide to 'Romeo and Juliet'. The play's commentary focuses on themes, language, imagery and Shakespeare's most beautiful use of poetry to express the fated teenagers' love and tragic end.
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Author: William Shakespeare
Author William Shakespeare
Narrator Various
Duration 2h 1m
Foretold he will become King of Scotland and spurred on by his wife, Macbeth commits deadly treason to seize the throne. Once crowned, guilt and mistrust of all around him leads Macbeth to embark on a trail of bloodshed and murder to stay in power. But under the yoke of his brutal reign, civil war breaks out and a rebellious army gathers to overthr...
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Author: William Shakespeare
Author William Shakespeare
Narrator Paul Scofield, Dame Peggy Ashcroft
Duration 4m
"If it were done when 'tis done..." From the BBC Sound Archives, one of Shakespeare's most famous and memorable speeches, with Paul Scofield and Peggy Ashcroft as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, bringing these ominous words vividly to life
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Macbeth - Smartpass Study Guide
Author: William Shakespeare, Simon Potter
Author William Shakespeare, Simon Potter
Narrator Various
Duration 4h 20m
This guide takes the listener through the plot of Macbeth and gets to grips with the language, imagery, themes and social and historical settings. The play is presented as a full cast drama with simultaneous guided interpretation and analysis.
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Hamlet - Smartpass Study Guide
Author: William Shakespeare, Smartpass
Author William Shakespeare, Smartpass
Narrator Various
Duration 12h 11m
`There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so'. Discover why generations of actors dream of playing Hamlet, the intellectual prince at war with himself, in this powerful tragedy of revenge, remorse, madness and murder.
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Author: William Shakespeare
Author William Shakespeare
Narrator Denis Quilley
Duration 2m
"Is this a dagger which I see before me....." With Denis Quilley as Macbeth, this recording from the BBC Sound Archives brings Shakespeare's memorable words to life..
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Author: William Shakespeare
Author William Shakespeare
Narrator Full Cast
Duration 2h 50m
As Romeo and Juliet come from opposing families, their love must be concealed until after their marriage. But having slain Juliet's cousin Tybalt, Romeo is banished and despite the well-meaning intervention of Friar Laurence, fate ensures that the marriage is never truly celebrated. Dramatisation of the New Cambridge version of the text.
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Merchant of Venice: Act 4 Scene 1
Author: William Shakespeare
Author William Shakespeare
Narrator Hannah Gordon
Duration 1m
"The quality of mercy is not strained...." In this recording from the BBC Sound Archives, Hannah Gordon is Shakespeare's wise Portia.
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Author: William Shakespeare
Author William Shakespeare
Narrator Ian Holm
Duration 2m
"Now is the winter of our discontent...." Ian Holm delivers King Richard IIIs soliloquy, bringing Shakespeare's wonderful lines, full of pyschological insight, vividly to life.
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