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Caesar and Cleopatra, a captivating play penned by George Bernard Shaw in 1898, first graced the stage in 1901 and was published alongside Captain Brassbounds Conversion and The Devils Disciple in the 1901 collection Three Plays for Puritans. The inaugural performance took place in Newcastle upon Tyne on March 15, 1899, with a notable London production at the Savoy Theatre in 1907. Shaw presents a compelling argument that it was not passion, but rather political ambition, that drew Cleopatra to Julius Caesar. He draws parallels between the Roman occupation of ancient Egypt and the British ...

George Bernard Shaw - or Bernard Shaw, as he preferred to be known - was one of Ireland's foremost dramatists and thinkers. His plays range from contemporary satires to historical allegories, and are infused with ideas, insight, wit and wisdom. Included here are some of his best works, adapted for radio and brought together in reverse chronological order in one statement collection.

Eight of George Bernard Shaw's most memorable plays in one splendid collection: Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Arms and the Man, Candida, The Devil’s Disciple, Major Barbara, The Doctor’s Dilemma, Misalliance, and Pygmalion.

Immerse yourself in the brilliant wit and thought-provoking wisdom of playwright and critic George Bernard Shaw with this wondrous collection featuring 100 quotes that encapsulate Shaw's genius and his timeless relevance. From sharp social commentary to inspiring words on art, politics, and life, this collection is sure to captivate, challenge and inspire you.

A new version of this classic starring Stephen Fry. A chance encounter leads to flower girl Eliza Dootlittle undergoing a life changing transformation.

Arms and the Man is a comedy by George Bernard Shaw that takes place in 1885, during the Serbo-Bulgarian War. Raina Petkoff is engaged to the gallant Sergius Saranoff, hero of the recent Bulgarian victory over the Serbs. But she is distracted by the abrupt arrival of Captain Bluntschli, a Swiss mercenary who fought for the Serbian army. He takes refuge in her bedroom after the battle and although he is initially threatening, reveals that he carries chocolate creams instead of bullets. Will Raina marry the posturing Sergius or the chocolate cream soldier?

In Widowers Houses, one of the three thought-provoking plays that make up Shaws Plays Unpleasant published in 1898, the renowned playwright challenges the status quo of Victorian theatre. Rather than simply entertain, Shaw aims to illuminate pressing social issues and critique the exploitation of the working class by the affluent elite. The story follows Dr. Harry Trench, who faces a moral crisis upon learning the unsettling truth about his fiancées father, Mr. Sartorius, and his dubious means of wealth. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Trenchs own financial situation is ...

The action of this play, which occurs during a conflict on the Balkans, is initiated by the discovery by Raina, the daughter of an military officer, of a man who has taken refuge in her bedroom. Unfortunately, the man belongs to the opposing army. How will she deal with a notional enemy who behaves with such quixotic courtesy?

Saint Joan is a compelling play by George Bernard Shaw that dives into the life of Joan of Arc, a 15th-century French military icon. Premiering in 1923, just three years after her canonization by the Roman Catholic Church, the play captures Shaws perspective that the individuals involved in Joans trial acted based on their convictions. In his preface, Shaw eloquently states, “There are no villains in the piece. Crime, like disease, is not interesting it is something to be done away with by general consent, and that is all [there is] about it. It is what men do at their best, with good ...

George Bernard Shaw has been called the second greatest playwright in English (after William Shakespeare) and one of the inventors of modern celebrity as the most famous public intellectual of his time. Beginning in the 1880s, as a critic and as a playwright, he transformed British drama, bringing to it intellectual substance, ethical imperatives, and modernity itself, setting the theatrical course for the subsequent century. That his legacy endures 70 years after his death is testament to the prescience of his thinking and his prolific creativity.

Irascible phonetics professor Henry Higgins makes a bet with his friend Colonel Pickering that he can train Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle to talk ‘like a lady’ and pass as a duchess at the Ambassador’s Ball. As the day of reckoning approaches, can Eliza convince the assembled aristocrats that she’s one of them? And what will become of her afterwards? This effervescent radio version of Shaw’s classic comedy features a stellar cast, including award-winning comedians Alistair McGowan as Henry Higgins, Morgana Robinson as Eliza Doolittle and Al Murray as Alfred Doolittle.

Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the American Revolution, Devils Disciple follows the rebellious Richard Dudgeon, who, disillusioned by his mothers strict religious fervor and the narrow-mindedness of his neighbors, boldly embraces the title of the devils disciple. He finds camaraderie among the towns outcasts and relishes in the discomfort of those around him, including the earnest minister Anthony Anderson and his unassuming wife, Judith. However, as the British Army, led by General Burgoyne, draws near in search of prominent rebels to punish, Richard, Anthony, and Judith confront a ...

In the Greek legend, a sculptor, Pygmalion, created a statue of a woman so beautiful that he fell in love with it. Later the goddess Aphrodite responded to his earnest prayers and brought the statue, named Galatea, to life. Shaw's Pygmalion is a fussy unmarried professor of phonetics, Henry Higgins, who claims that he could train an uneducated person off the street to speak so that he or she could pass as a member of the aristocracy. His Galatea is Eliza Doolittle, who sells flowers at Covent Garden and whose father is a dissipated but cunning vagrant.

This podcast delves into the intriguing friendship and intellectual sparring between George Bernard Shaw and G.K. Chesterton. Despite their contrasting beliefs, the two maintained a mutual respect and fascination for each others ideas. The podcast explores how Shaw, a prominent figure in the emerging school of thought known as humanism, championed progress for its own sake, even if it meant redefining the nature of humanity. Chesterton, in contrast, was more inclined towards religious thought, with his views leaning more and more towards the Church. This podcast offers a fascinating insight ...

Man and Superman was the first drama to be broadcast on the BBC's Third Programme on October 1st, 1946. To celebrate Radio 3's 50th anniversary, the play was directed by Sir Peter Hall, and preserved for all time in this lush audio dramatisation. 'A comedy and a philosophy', Man and Superman is...

Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw is a comedic play set during the Serbo-Bulgarian War. It follows the story of Raina, a young Bulgarian woman, who shelters a Swiss mercenary soldier named Captain Bluntschli. Unlike the romanticized ideals of war that Raina believes in, Bluntschli is practical, preferring food over bullets and questioning the glory of battle. As Raina's idealistic views are challenged, the play humorously critiques the absurdity of romanticized heroism and war. Meanwhile, a love triangle develops between Raina, her fiancé Sergius, and Bluntschli, revealing the ...

Barbara, the granddaughter of an earl, is busy saving souls in the Salvation Army while her father, maintaining that poverty is the worst of crimes, runs a munitions factory.

To celebrate Radio 3's 50th anniversary, Man and Superman was directed by Sir Peter Hall, and preserved for all time in this lush audio dramatization. "A comedy and a philosophy", Man and Superman is based on the Don Juan theme, and using all the elements from Mozart's Don Giovanni, Shaw reordered them so that Don Juan becomes the quarry instead of the huntsman. Boasting an outstanding cast including Ralph Fiennes, Juliet Stevenson, Dame Judi Dench, John Wood, Nicholas Le Prevost, and Paul Merton.

Misalliance, a captivating play by George Bernard Shaw from 1910, delves into the complex romantic dynamics of an eclectic group gathered at a wealthy mans country estate during a summer weekend. At the heart of the intrigue is Hypatia Tarleton, the hosts spirited daughter and a quintessential Shaw heroine, who embodies his belief that in the dance of courtship, women are the relentless pursuers while men are often hesitant. Hypatia is the daughter of the newly affluent John Tarleton, who amassed his fortune in the unremarkable yet profitable underwear industry. Growing weary of the rigid ...

In Fannys First Play, we meet Fanny, the spirited daughter of a Count, who has taken a bold step by penning her own play. With professional actors at her side and the eyes of prominent critics upon her, she chooses to keep her authorship a secret, fearing her fathers disapproval of the perceived vulgarity of modern life. Will Fannys daring endeavor succeed, or will her fathers traditional values overshadow her artistic ambitions? Join us for a captivating journey filled with wit, tension, and the struggle for creative freedom. - Summary by Michele Eaton