AuthorWilliam Shakespeare
NarratorVarious
Duration2h 1m
CategoriesAdult Fiction, Plays and Dramatisations
Key StageKS4
PublisherBBC
VersionAbridged
In this BBC full-cast production of The Merchant of Venice, love, bigotry, greed, and justice are entwined.
Shakespeare's classic play explores the eternal themes of love and hate, mercy and justice, with parallel stories centred on the moneylender, Shylock, and the lovers, Portia and Bassanio. Shylock's angry insistence on the repayment of his debt from Bassanio ends in the Venetian courts, where he demands his pound of flesh. Portia meanwhile, a wealthy young Venetian woman, must marry one of her many suitors. Her late father's will has set the challenge by means of three caskets: one gold, one silver and one lead.
Warren Mitchell stars as Shylock, with Martin Jarvis as Antonio, Samuel West as Bassanio and Juliet Aubrey as Portia.
This superb production of Shakespeare's dramatic and complex play is directed by the award-winning Peter Kavanagh, and features specially-composed music by the renowned Barrington Pheloung.
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.
View Book
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.
View Book
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.
View Book
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.
View Book
Author: William Shakespeare
Author William Shakespeare
Narrator Various
Duration 2h 53m
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 i...
View Book
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...
View Book
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..
View Book
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.
View Book
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
View Book
