Showing results for "William King" in Entertainment & Performing Arts

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...

In this BBC full-cast production, the ghost of Hamlet's father orders him to kill the man who took his life, his throne and his wife: Claudius. In a tale of caution, tragedy and revenge, Hamlet is driven to madness by his mission and his father's legacy. Michael Sheen stars as Hamlet, with...

In this BBC full-cast production, a trio of witches predicts Macbeth's early demise. In a tale of fate, fulfilment and ego, Macbeth and his wife desire the Scottish kingship. Macbeth's temptation and descent into evil, his wife's ruthlessness and subsequent madness and the overarching presence...

Lydia (Aja Naomi King) and Henry (Jason Butler Harner)’s dinner guests (Madeline Brewer and William Jackson Harper) are about to arrive when Henry’s spontaneous marriage proposal threatens to burn the evening to a crisp. Wine bottles and years of unspoken tensions are uncorked, and before the evening is through, Lydia must confront her long-held fears and feelings if she’s going to commit to a future with Henry.

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...

In this BBC full-cast production, Othello is drawn further and further into jealous rage by the manipulative Iago. In this story of evil cunning perverting a once noble mind, radio captures Iago's sly hints and boasts to the audience with shocking clarity. The listener is led along an emotional...

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...

A podcast featuring interviews with people who write music. How do composers start new pieces? How do they take an idea and develop into a work of art? In Remain Composed, we meet people writing different kinds of music, at different stages in their careers, to find out what influences them and how their processes work.

Delve into the complexities of power, family dynamics, and the human condition as inspired by the timeless themes of a royal father's descent into madness and the ensuing chaos it wreaks upon his kingdom. This podcast offers a rotating collection of complete audiobooks that explore the intricate struggles between authority and loyalty, wisdom and folly, ambition and betrayal. Each week, a different book is featured, showcasing a diverse range of perspectives, time periods, and storytelling styles. Perfect for those seeking insight into the human psyche or simply an escape into the dramatic and...

Known for its profound emotion and startling brutality, The Tragedy of King Lear is celebrated as one of Shakespeares greatest masterpieces. This gripping tale follows the aging King Lear, a British monarch who foolishly divides his vast kingdom among his two eldest daughters, seduced by their flattering words. Tragically, these daughters conceal their ruthless hearts, while the only daughter deserving of his love, Cordelia, is cast aside and ultimately exiled for refusing to engage in their deceit. Lears impulsive choices set off a devastating chain of events that plunge him into despair. ...

Dive into the tumultuous reign of John, King of England, in William Shakespeares powerful history play, The Life and Death of King John. This gripping drama, believed to have been penned in the mid-1590s and published in the First Folio of 1623, chronicles the life of John Lackland, who ruled from 1199 until his death in 1216. As the son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, Johns rule was marked by the catastrophic loss of Normandy to King Philip II of France in 1204, leading to the disintegration of the Angevin Empire and the rise of the Capetian dynasty. The latter part of Johns reign ...

Dive into the captivating world of Shakespeares Richard II, often heralded by scholars as the first act in the sweeping saga of the Henriad. This play offers a profound exploration of the nature of monarchy, illustrating the transition from the divine right of kings to a more politically savvy approach. Shakespeare presents Richard as a tragic figure, whose failures as a ruler are starkly highlighted through his mishandling of a judicial duel and his unscrupulous seizing of funds for an Irish campaign. In stark contrast stands Henry Bolingbroke, the cunning opportunist who gathers enough ...

In this BBC full-cast production of Much Ado About Nothing, some handsome soldiers return from battle. Yet one soldier finds himself locked in a merry war of his own... In Shakespeare's comedy of wit, love and miscommunication, Beatrice and Benedick and Hero and Claudio are pushed into and...

In this BBC full-cast production, King Lear tests his three daughters' love, with disastrous consequences. Some of the most stirring scenes Shakespeare ever wrote resonate powerfully in this dramatic radio production. Tortured madness, pure evil, and the fatal struggle for power grip the...

Written in 1593, King Richard III is one of Shakespeare's earliest plays. This play differs from its predecessors, being amore structured piece, examining the development and motivations of a single character, Richard Duke of Gloucester, who will stop at nothing to gain control of the throne occupied by his brother Edward IV.

Step into the world of Shakespeare’s iconic second Henriad as we witness the thrilling journey of King Henry V, a leader whose evolution from the carefree prince of Henry IV to a determined monarch is nothing short of remarkable. Persuaded by the English clergy of his ancestral claim to the French throne, Henry faces the haughty Dauphins mockery, symbolized by a gift of tennis balls. In response, he boldly commands the invasion of France, igniting a fierce and costly conflict that becomes the backdrop for one of Shakespeare’s most patriotic narratives. Through Henry, we explore the themes ...

Step back into the tumultuous world of Shakespeares Henriad with the enthralling sequel to Henry IV, Part 1. Set against the backdrop of the aftermath of the Battle of Shrewsbury, this gripping tale follows the Earl of Northumberland as he seeks vengeance for his son Hotspurs death at the hands of Prince Hal. As discontent brews among the nobles, Falstaff—now richer and more audacious than ever—continues his drunken escapades in Eastcheap, drawing the ire of Mistress Quickly and the affections of Doll Tearsheet. Meanwhile, Prince Hal grapples with his fathers declining health and the ...

In the aftermath of Richard IIs downfall, Shakespeares captivating Henriad unfolds with King Henry IV, Part 1, a play rich in political intrigue and personal conflict. As King Henry IV grapples with a growing divide between himself and the rebellious Percys, tensions escalate when young Hotspur confronts him over the fate of ransomed prisoners from a recent battle. The Percys, in collaboration with the Welsh and Scots, plot their uprising against the throne. Meanwhile, Henry’s wayward son, Prince Hal, is lost in a world of taverns and highwaymen, finding companionship in the roguish Sir John...

Dive into the captivating world of The Reign of King Edward the Third, an Elizabethan play printed anonymously in 1596. Often attributed, at least in part, to the genius of William Shakespeare, this play showcases the dramatic flair of the era, with scholars increasingly supporting its Shakespearean connection, while Thomas Kyd likely contributed to its creation. The narrative is rich with jabs at Scotland and its people, which sparked protests from Queen Elizabeths agent in Edinburgh, revealing the contentious nature of its portrayal. The play was notably excluded from the First Folio ...

Shakespeare’s history plays fall into two categories: political dramas and propagandistic pageants. The second category is comprised of the two plays in this presentation, Henry V and Henry VIII. These two plays have many elements in common. An underlying theme is the necessity and glory of...