Shakespeare Classics

The Winter's Tale follows two childhood friends: Leontes, King of Sicilia, and Polixenes, the King of Bohemia. Polixenes is visiting the kingdom of Sicilia and is enjoying catching up with his old friend. However, after nine months, Polixenes yearns to return to his own kingdom to tend to affairs and see his son. 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.

The Life and Death of King John was probably written in the 1590s but not published until the First Folio in 1623. Of Shakespeare's 11 history plays, King John is the one which deals with the story of a monarch most removed from Shakespeare's time. The historical remoteness of this ruler, and also the fact that he had no genealogical links with the Tudor dynasty, enabled Shakespeare to present him in a warts and allà fashion.

Julius Caesar triumphantly returns to Rome, where he is met by betrayal, conspiracy, and, ultimately, assassination, followed by Mark Antony's revenge on the plotters. The drama is also the story of Marcus Brutus and his struggle between the conflicting demands of his friendship with Caesar and his loyalty to Roman ideals.

In this, Shakespeare's most fantastical comedy, the fairy world wreaks havoc with the foolish mortal one as a lover's nightmare melts into an innocent dream. Under the canopy of a moonlit forest, pairs of lovers and five delightfully inept "mechanicals" weave a web of magic.

July - the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, and summer is a rich harvest of colours and sights. Poets of the calibre of Shakespeare, Keats, Pope, Whitman, and Tennyson describe and marshall their thoughts for our delight.

Antonio's friend Bassanio is in love and needs money to go courting. Using Antonio as his collateral, he borrows money from Shylock. But when the debt comes due, Shylock demands repayment in the form of a pound of Antonio's flesh. Hugh Griffin, Harry Andrews, Ian Holm and Roy Dotrice perform Shakespeare's tragicomedy.

Award-winning drama from SmartPass. This production is unabridged, with guided description to set the scene and fill in visual moments.

An award winning Drama from SmartPass. Unabridged with guided description to set the scene and fill in visual moments.

David Ian Davies performs this unique and exciting reading of William Shakespeare's erotic poem, The Rape of Lucrece - not available on cassette or CD!

Troilus and Cressida is set during the latter years of the Trojan War, faithfully following the plotline of the Iliad from Achilles' refusal to participate in battle to Hector's death. This full-cast dramatization is performed by The Marlowe Society.

A celebration of one of the world's best loved actors, Sir John Gielgud. Here you can hear him perform his classic roles and read some of his favourite poetry.

The Passionate Pilgrim was an anthology of 20 poems attributed to William Shakespeare - but which present-day scholars think just five were actually written by the Bard. Here, the most popular four poems, 'The Passionate Pilgrim', 'Sonnets to Sundry Notes of Music', 'A Lover's Complaint', and 'The Phoenix and The Turtle' are read by Edith Evans, Donald Wolfit, Joan Hart, and William Squire.

In his absence, Duke Vincentio charges Angelo to enforce the laws of Vienna. Disguised as a friar, the Duke stays to observe the proceedings. But all is not as it should be!

The multi-award winning SmartPass full-cast, unabridged performance with comprehensive commentary and analysis for any student to fully understand and appreciate the play.

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

A collection of classic literature that features erotic dreams including "The Eve of St. Agnes", "Erotica Romana", and "A Last Confession".

Award winning actor Sir Michael Redgrave leads a full-cast performance of Shakespeare's dramatic comedy.

Machtgier, Verführung, Mord und Wahnsinn, Macbeth ist Shakespeares kürzeste und zugleich dunkelste Tragödie. Die Geschichte eines Mannes, der mit Hilfe seiner Frau zum blutigsten aller schottischen Könige aufsteigt. Und wieder zu Fall gebracht wird.

At the center of each of the four great Shakespearean tragedies - Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, and Othello - is a powerful figure who is led to destruction by a fatal character flaw. In the case of Macbeth it is ambition. Initially a valiant warrior, and staunch servant of his regal overlord Duncan, Macbeth succumbs to the lure of absolute political domination, which leads to murder, revolt, and comprehensive defeat.

An award winning Drama from SmartPass. Unabridged with guided description to set the scene and fill in visual moments.