Shakespeare Audiobooks | Drama

Antony And Cleopatra (BBC Radio Shakespeare)

BBC Radio has a unique heritage when it comes to Shakespeare. Since 1923, when the newly formed company broadcast its first full-length play, generations of actors and producers have honed and perfected the craft of making Shakespeare to be heard. In the acclaimed BBC Radio Shakespeare series, each play is introduced by Richard Eyre, former Director of the Royal National Theatre. Revitalised, original and comprehensive, this is Shakespeare for the new millennium. Antony and Cleopatra centres around the soldier and noble prince Mark Antony's enthralment with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, and the tumultuous relationship which ensues and ultimately ends in tragedy. Frances Barber and David Harewood star in a towering tale of great love, political intrigue and tragedy.

William Shakespeare (Author), Colin Tierney, David Harewood, Frances Barber, Full Cast, Roger Allam (Narrator)

Audiobook

Antony and Cleopatra: Drama

Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston star in Shakespeare's tragedy of love and power.As part of BBC Radio 3's celebration of the 450th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare, Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston star in this brand new production.Lovers, politicians, superstars. Antony & Cleopatra is Shakespeare's late and epic tragedy of mature love, and the catastrophic fall from grace and power that it brings about. Irresistibly drawn together, the couple are surrounded by friends, enemies, admirers and critics, none of who remain unscathed by the folly and heartbreak of this magnificent pair. As empires clash around them, their destiny seems inevitable: to love each other til death and even beyond. Produced by BBC Cymru Wales for BBC Radio 3, this radio production also features Geoffrey Streatfeild, Nigel Anthony, Don Gilet and Peter Polycarpou amongst its cast.

William Shakespeare (Author), , Alex Kingston, Full Cast, Kenneth Branagh (Narrator)

Audiobook

As You Like It

Orlando makes his way to the court of Duke Frederick, and falls desperately in love with the Duke's niece, Rosalind. Meanwhile, in the Forest of Arden, the Old Duke is living peacefully after having his throne usurped by his brother, Frederick. Orlando learns about a threat on his life and flees to the forest. Shortly thereafter, Rosalind is banished by her uncle and also seeks safety there disguised as a boy. Will the Old Duke recognize his daughter? Will the lovers be reunited?

William Shakespeare (Author), Saddleback Educational Publishing (Narrator)

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As You Like It

This pastoral comedy is one of Shakespeare’s best loved, owing to its delightful heroine—the wise, witty, and virtuous Rosalind. Rosalind, daughter of the deposed Duke Senior, is exiled from the court by her wicked uncle. Disguising herself as a young man and accompanied by her cousin Celia, she takes refuge in the Forest of Arden. In the forest Rosalind meets Orlando with whom she is in love, but her male disguise complicates matters, especially when Rosalind finds she has unwittingly attracted the shepherdess Phebe. But out of the confusion comes reconciliation and forgiveness, and all ends happily. Rosalind is played by Niamh Cusack, Orlando by Stephen Mangan. Victoria Hamilton is Celia, and Gerard Murphy is Jaques. “Another play in the fine Arkangel Complete Shakespeare series is performed by accomplished British players. Stephen Mangan and Niamh Cusack are especially strong as the lead characters. The original music and singing give the production a true theatrical feel.”—AudioFile

E.A. Copen, Pierre Arthur Laure, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Tom Wheelwright, William Shakespeare (Author), A Full Cast (Narrator)

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As You Like It

As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare. With its explorations of sexual ambivalence, As You Like It speaks directly to the twenty-first century. Rosalind's authority in the play grows from new ideas about women and reveals that Shakespeare's heroine reinvents herself for every age. But the play is also deeply rooted in Elizabethan culture, and through it Shakespeare addresses some of the hotly debated issues of the period. The play features one of Shakespeare's most famous and oft-quoted lines, "All the world's a stage", and has been adapted many times for radio, film, and musical theatre.

William Shakespeare (Author), Group (Narrator)

Audiobook

As You Like It

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.’ Forced into exile in the Forest of Arden, lovers Rosalind and Orlando become entangled in a beguiling game of love, lust and mistaken identity. Rosalind and her cousin escape into the forest and find Orlando, Rosalind's love. Disguised as a boy shepherd, Rosalind has Orlando woo her under the guise of 'curing' him of his love for Rosalind. Rosalind reveals she is a girl and marries Orlando during a group wedding at the end of the play. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: John Barton; Tony Church; Peter Bingham; Anthony Jacobs; John Arnott; David Buck; Tony White; David Gibson; Denys Robertson; John Wilders; Gary Watson; Julian Pettifer; John Bird; George Rylands; Christine Baker; Wendy Gifford; Irene Worth; Mary Fenton.

William Shakespeare (Author), Anthony Jacobs, Full Cast, John Arnott, John Barton, Peter Bingham, Tony Church (Narrator)

Audiobook

As You Like It

“All the world's a stage,And all the men and women merely players;They have their exits and their entrances;And one man in his time plays many parts,His acts being seven ages.” As You Like It follows the lives of men and women who have been banished from their home after ruler, Duke Senior, was usurped by his younger brother. Duke Senior’s companions begin living in the forest outside of the duchy, where they encounter a man named Orlando, who has been secretly in love with the Duke’s daughter Rosalind. Orlando journeys to win Rosalind’s heart, while not knowing where Rosalind actually is in the aftermath of the usurpation. Rosalind, her best friend (who is also the daughter of the Duke’s younger brother), and the court’s jester have also resigned to the forest, but are fully disguised to keep their identities hidden. They encounter interesting characters of all sorts, such as a melancholy man named Jacques, a shepherdess who accidentally falls in love with Rosalind’s male disguise, and many more. Obviously, this play is centered on a cast that keeps secrets, subtly deceives one another, dons disguises of all sorts, and above all else desires to find true love in the forest. This play is well known for the cast of entertaining characters, as well as being the origin of some of Shakespeare’s most well-known passages.

William Shakespeare (Author), Edward James Beesley (Narrator)

Audiobook

As You Like It

Step into the enchanting world of William Shakespeare's timeless classic, 'As You Like It,' with our captivating digital audiobook. Immerse yourself in the whimsical forest of Arden as you join the delightful characters on their journey of love, self-discovery, and mirthful escapades. With expertly narrated prose that brings Shakespeare's lyrical language to life, you'll be transported to a realm of romance, comedy, and wit. Whether you're a seasoned Shakespeare enthusiast or a newcomer to his works, this digital audiobook promises to entertain, inspire, and illuminate the brilliance of the Bard in a way that's accessible and thoroughly enjoyable. Experience the magic of 'As You Like It' like never before, wherever you are, with the convenience of an audiobook.

William Shakespeare (Author), Various (Narrator)

Audiobook

As You Like It (BBC Radio Shakespeare)

Helena Bonham Carter stars as Rosalind, with David Morrissey as Orlando and Natasha Little as Celia in Shakespeare's comedy about the enchanted world of the Forest of Arden. BBC Radio has a unique heritage when it comes to Shakespeare. Since 1923, when the newly formed company broadcast its first full-length play, generations of actors and producers have honed and perfected the craft of making Shakespeare to be heard. In the acclaimed BBC Radio Shakespeare series, each play is introduced by Richard Eyre, former Director of the Royal National Theatre. Revitalised, original and comprehensive, this is Shakespeare for the new millennium.

William Shakespeare (Author), , David Morrissey, Full Cast, Helena Bonham Carter, Natasha Little (Narrator)

Audiobook

As You Like It (Shakespeare Stories)

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.

Edith Nesbit, William Shakespeare (Author), Josh Verbae (Narrator)

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As You Like It (Unabridged)

As You Like It by William Shakespeare - is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility. Synopsis The play is set in a duchy in France, but most of the action takes place in a location called the Forest of Arden. This may be intended as the Ardennes, a forested region covering an area located in southeast Belgium, western Luxembourg and northeastern France, or Arden, Warwickshire, near Shakespeare's home town, which was the ancestral origin of his mother's family-whose surname was Arden. Frederick has usurped the duchy and exiled his older brother, Duke Senior. Duke Senior's daughter, Rosalind, has been permitted to remain at court because she is the closest friend of Frederick's only child, Celia. Orlando, a young gentleman of the kingdom who at first sight has fallen in love with Rosalind, is forced to flee his home after being persecuted by his older brother, Oliver. Frederick becomes angry and banishes Rosalind from court. Celia and Rosalind decide to flee together accompanied by the court fool, Touchstone, with Rosalind disguised as a young man and Celia disguised as a poor lady. Rosalind, now disguised as Ganymede ('Jove's own page'), and Celia, now disguised as Aliena (Latin for 'stranger'), arrive in the Arcadian Forest of Arden, where the exiled Duke now lives with some supporters, including 'the melancholy Jaques', a malcontent figure, who is introduced weeping over the slaughter of a deer. 'Ganymede' and 'Aliena' do not immediately encounter the Duke and his companions. Instead, they meet Corin, an impoverished tenant, and offer to buy his master's crude cottage. Orlando and his servant Adam, meanwhile, find the Duke and his men and are soon living with them and posting simplistic love poems for Rosalind on the trees. It has been said that the role of Adam was played by Shakespeare, though this story is also said to be without foundation. Rosalind, also in love with Orlando, meets him as Ganymede and pretends to counsel him to cure him of being in love. Ganymede says that 'he' will take Rosalind's place and that 'he' and Orlando can act out their relationship.

William Shakespeare (Author), Abby Pugh, Alan Mapstone, Amy L. Gramour, Arielle Lipshaw, Charlotte Duckett, David Lawrence, Eden Rea-Hedrick, Elizabeth Klett, Grace Garrett, Katalina Watt, Ken Garrett, Kevin Green (Narrator)

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BBC Radio Shakespeare: A Collection of Eight Comedies

Eight full-cast BBC Radio productions of Shakespeare's best-loved comedies Full of merriment, mayhem, mischief and mistaken identity, here are eight iconic radio productions of Shakespeare's most magical comedies, featuring star casts and introduced by Sir Richard Eyre. Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare's delightful comedy sparkles with the verbal sparring of our two reluctant lovers in a world where nothing is quite what it seems. David Tennant and Samantha Spiro star as Benedick and Beatrice. As You Like It The Forest of Arden resonates with declarations of love in this joyous pastoral comedy, starring Helena Bonham Carter as Rosalind, David Morrissey as Orlando and Natasha Little as Celia. A Midsummer Night's Dream In this delightful comic fantasy, four young lovers and a troupe of actors have a bewitching encounter with Fairyland. Starring David Threlfall as Theseus/Oberon, Sylvestra Le Touzel as Titania/Hippolyta and Amanda Root as Hermia. The Merchant of Venice Shakespeare's thrilling courtroom drama explores the eternal themes of love and hate, mercy and justice. Starring Warren Mitchell as Shylock, with Martin Jarvis as Antonio, Juliet Aubrey as Portia and Samuel West as Bassanio. Twelfth Night On the night when all the world is turned on its head, girls become boys and women lust after women, in this most optimistic of Shakespeare's comedies. Michael Maloney stars as Orsino and Anne-Marie Duff as Viola. The Tempest A ship at sea and an enchanted island are the settings for this allegorical tale of betrayal, sorcery, revenge and reconciliation. Starring Philip Madoc as Prospero and Nina Wadia as Ariel. The Taming of the Shrew Farce, disguise, elaborate role-playing and acerbic exchanges of wit combine to make up an extraordinary love story that still sparks controversy 400 years after it was written. Gerard McSorley stars as Petruchio and Ruth Mitchell as Katherina. All's Well That Ends Well This intriguing play tells of the questionable course of action a young woman takes to win the hand of the man she loves. Emma Fielding stars as Helena, with Siân Phillips, Miriam Margolyes, Richard Griffiths and Simon Russell Beale.

William Shakespeare (Author), Anne-Marie Duff, David Tennant, Full Cast, Helena Bonham-Carter, Martin Jarvis, Miriam Margolyes, Siân Phillips (Narrator)

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Shakespeare Audiobooks in Drama