Classic Plays

Introduce your children to the magic of Shakespeare with these 20 favorite tales. Although simplified, these lively stories don't underestimate young readers; they keep the complexity, twists of plot, and turns of fate found in the originals.

Dive into the world of intrigue, romance, and high stakes with The Black Pearl by Victorien Sardou, narrated by Marcus Locke. This gripping tale combines mystery and sophistication, following a story of passion, betrayal, and the allure of a priceless black pearl. Set against a backdrop of opulence and drama, Sardou’s vivid storytelling transports listeners to a lavish 19th-century world filled with unforgettable characters and twists.

Das wunderbare Herrenhaus, umgeben von einem malerischen Kirschgarten, ist hoch verschuldet. Anja, die Tochter der Gutsbesitzerin, ruft ihre Mutter aus Paris zurück, wohin diese nach dem Tod ihres kleinen Sohnes geflohen war. Wie kann das Gut gerettet werden? Muss der Kirschgarten verkauft werden? Tschechows letztes Stück ist noch heute fester Bestandteil der Spielpläne der Theater.

Louis Esson is considered to be the first great Australian dramatist. As with most of his work, these four plays depict life from the view of the common man and provide vivid presentations of life, both urban and rural, in Australia before the First World War.

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often shortened to Hamlet, is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts Prince Hamlet and his revenge against his uncle, Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father in order to seize his throne and marry Hamlet's mother.

Complete and unabridged version of Shakespeare's comedy performed by a full cast including Derek Godfrey, Prunella Scales, and Diana Rigg.

Ghosts is a play by the legendary Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Written in 1881, the play is a scathing commentary on 19th-century morality. Its controversial subject matter includes frank discussions of incest, euthanasia, criticism of religion, and venereal disease, a basket of deplorable themes that scandalized Victorian society. Ghosts is the story of Helen Alving, a widow who is haunted by the many mistresses of her deceased husband and by her troubled son. The theme is a refutation of the idea that one ought to sacrifice one’s dreams on the altar of duty.

Four classic tales of horror by celebrated authors in one thrilling audiobook.

The Cherry Orchard (1903) is the final play by the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. It is considered as one of four outstanding plays by Chekhov, along with The Seagull, Three Sisters, and Uncle Vanya. The narrative recounts an aristocratic landowner who returns to her family estate just before it is auctioned to pay the mortgage. It dramatizes the socio-economic developments in Russia at the turn of the 20th century, including the rise of the middle class after the abolition of serfdom and the waning power of the aristocracy.

Hedda and George Tesman have just returned from their six-month honeymoon tour of the Tyrol. George, a studious and somewhat dull academic has spent most of the time continuing his research. Hedda, the daughter of the celebrated, aristocratic General Gabler, recently deceased, has been accustomed to the finer things in life. She is already bored in her marriage and diverts herself with her father's pistols and the attentions of family friend, Judge Brack.

The Marlowe Society performs an unabridged version of Shakespeare's tragedy featuring Romeo and Juliet, whose untimely deaths unite their feuding families.

A Classic recording of Shakespeare's well-loved comedy. Cast including renowned Shakespearean actors John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft and Gary Watson.

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

The Marlowe Society perform Shakespeare's tragedy based on the life of the Roman Leader Gaius Martius Coriolanus.

The Life and Death of King John, a history play by William Shakespeare, dramatizes the reign of King John of England (ruled 1199 - 1216), son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine and father of Henry III of England. It is believed to have been written in the mid-1590s but was not published until it appeared in the First Folio in 1623. Performed by The Marlowe Society.

A stage adaptation of Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights."

In Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark has recently lost his father, but his mother is in a hurry to marry her late husband's brother. Hamlet is overwhelmed with grief for his father's death but also outraged because of the hurried marriage. Most people don't realize that there are three versions of Hamlet, printed at different times. There is a considerable difference between the texts of these versions, so to have a "complete" version of this play, editors had to make some adjustments. The three texts are simply different versions of the play.

Shakespeare writes about the plight of Romeo and Juliet with a lot of empathy and views their tragedy as a result of bad fate, rather than a problem with their characters. We sense from the very start that their relationship is doomed. Romeo and Juliet are portrayed as sincere and virtuous young people who are madly in love, but because of the feud between their families, their relationship has to end. As they won't even consider a separation, the only way out of the situation they find themselves in is by taking their own lives.

The new Jim Carrey movie, Me, Myself, and Irene, hits theaters this weekend! We recommend listening to the original tale of a man with an evil twin, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as a warm-up for this summer blockbuster.

Rómeó er í öngum sínum yfir stúlku sem vill ekkert með hann hafa, svo vinur hans tekur hann með sér í veislu í von um að aðrar fallegar stúlkur muni leiða hugann frá henni. Það tekst svo sannarlega. Þegar Rómeó læsir augunum við unga Júlíu er ást við fyrstu sýn. Til allrar óhamingju uppgötva Rómeó og Júlía brátt að þau tilheyra fjölskyldum sem eiga í ættardeilum og verða þau að halda rómantík sinni leyndri. Frægasta ástarsaga sem skrifuð hefur verið, Rómeó og Júlía, er vísun í bæði hreina sanna ást og harmleik.