Audiobooks by William Shakespeare

Beautiful Stories From Shakespeare: A soothing reading for sleep and relaxation

Step into the enchanting world of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare, a delightful collection by E. Nesbit, narrated by the soothing voice of Andrew Bond and produced by Slumber Studios. If sleepless nights or a busy mind are keeping you awake, this audiobook is designed to gently lull you into a peaceful and restorative sleep. Close your eyes, relax, and let Andrew Bonds’s calming narration introduce you to some of Shakespeare’s most beloved tales—retold with warmth and simplicity. Experience timeless stories of love, adventure, magic, and destiny, all while easing into deep relaxation. At Slumber Studios, we create tranquil content designed to help you unwind and drift off effortlessly. This audiobook features slow, gentle narration paired with soft background music, offering the perfect escape into dreamland. If you’re looking for a soothing way to end your day, this is the perfect choice. Simply press play, get cozy, and let Andrew's serene voice carry you through the unforgettable worlds of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare. Wake up refreshed, with a sense of peace and inspiration for the day ahead.

Edith Nesbit, William Shakespeare (Author), Andrew Bond (Narrator)

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The Pageants

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 government by sovereign royalty. Each play is presented by a chorus, who defines the action and intent of the drama. Rather than a continuous narrative the action is depicted in a series of tableaux, each of which seeks to illustrate a positive aspect of the monarch’s character. In each play an early part of the action involves the detection of treason and the punishment of the malefactors, presented as examples of the king’s shrewdness and rigorous sense of justice. Henry V, originally titled The Life of Henry the Fifth, tells the story of the king’s successful incursion into France to regain control of the territories claimed by the English crown, and his consolidation of his position by marrying the daughter of the King of France. Despite its references to the horror of military conflict, the mood of the play is generally bright and upbeat, although in the final speech the Chorus warns that much of this glory will be lost under the rule of Henry VI. Henry VIII, first published as The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eighth, was a joint production by Shakespeare and John Fletcher. It appears to have been written in 1612–1613. During a production of the play at the Globe Theatre in 1613, a cannon was discharged, resulting in a fire which burned the building to the ground. The action of Henry VIII focuses on three major events: The allegation of treason against the Duke of Buckingham, and his subsequent conviction and execution; Henry’s concern over the failure of his wife Katharine of Aragon to produce a male heir, his desire to divorce her and to marry the much younger Anne Bullen (Boleyn); and the birth of Anne’s child, the future Queen Elizabeth I. All references to Anne Bullen’s fall from grace and execution and to Henry’s subsequent marriages are strictly avoided. Henry is presented as a thoughtful and capable sovereign, somewhat overbearing, but genuinely troubled by the thought that his marriage to Katharine may have been canonically improper. Featuring Blaise Doran as Henry V and Josh Innerst as Henry VIII. Audio edited by Denis Daly

William Shakespeare (Author), Alan Weyman, Blaise Doran, Christopher Dukes, David Shears, Denis Daly, Geraint Pickard, Gregory Dwyer, Josh Innerst, Laura E. Richcreek, Linda Barrans, P. J. Morgan, Shane Emmett, Tim Dehn, a full cast (Narrator)

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[German] - William Shakespeare: Der Widerspenstigen Zähmung: Eine Komödie. Ungekürzt gelesen.

Kaufmann Baptista hat zwei Töchter. Die jüngere, Bianca, ist verliebt, doch kann Baptista sie nicht verheiraten, bevor Katharina, die ältere, nicht vergeben ist. Doch die ist widerspenstig - wie Lucentio, der Verlobte Biancas, herausfindet. Wie kann er sie unter die Haube bringen, damit seinem eigenen Glück nichts mehr im Wege steht? Ein vergnügliches Hin und Her mit unglaublich viel Wortwitz a la Shakespeare!!

William Shakespeare (Author), Jürgen Fritsche (Narrator)

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Love's Labour's Lost

King Ferdinand and his three friends, Biron, Longaville, and Dumain, plan to study philosophy for the next three years. During their academic pursuits, they must vow to sleep only three hours a night and not let any woman within a mile of court. These strict rules will prevent any distractions from their work - but their promises are soon put to the test when a princess and her three companions arrive for a state visit.

William Shakespeare (Author), Susan Bones, Zacharias Prewett (Narrator)

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Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare's timeless tragedy, tells the story of two star-crossed lovers from feuding families in Verona, Italy. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet fall deeply in love, defying their families' bitter hatred. Their passionate romance is marked by secrecy, longing, and the desperate hope for a future together. The play explores themes of fate, destiny, and the destructive power of societal conflict. As the young lovers navigate a world that seeks to tear them apart, their love becomes a beacon of hope and a symbol of defiance. However, their story ultimately ends in heartbreak, as misunderstandings and tragic circumstances lead to their untimely deaths. The play serves as a poignant commentary on the consequences of hatred and the timeless nature of love. With its powerful language and emotional depth, Romeo and Juliet continues to captivate audiences and remains one of the most beloved works in the literary canon.

William Shakespeare (Author), Natasha Putri (Narrator)

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Henry IV: Part 1 & Part 2

This full cast presentation includes Part 1 and Part 2 of Shakespeare’s Henry IV. In 1598 appeared a Quarto with the following title: The History of Henrie the Fourth; With the Battell at Shrewsburie, betweene the King and Lord Henry Percy, surnamed Henrie Hotspur of the North. With the humorous conceits of Sir John Falstaffe. At London. Printed by P. S. for Andrew Wise, dwelling in Paules Churchyard, at the signe of the Angell. 1598. This was the First Part of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, which must have been written in 1597. This play is the first in which Shakespeare really demonstrated his great and overwhelming individuality. Its dramatic structure is fairly loose, though is closer knit and technically stronger than that of the Second Part. However, as a poetical creation, it is one of the great masterpieces of the world’s literature, at once heroic and burlesque, thrilling and side-splitting. Yet these contrasted elements are not brought into hard-and-fast rhetorical antithesis, but move and mingle with a natural freedom. The driving elements of the plot are the machinations of the guilt-ridden King Henry IV to establish the legitimacy of his accession and the inevitable revolt by the former supporters who helped him to gain the throne. One of the leaders of the opposing faction is the warlike Henry Percy, nicknamed Hotspur, who the king compares unfavourably with his own son, the self-indulgent and riotous Prince Hal. The prince spends much of his time cavorting with a group of boon companions, the most notable of which is the dissipated and unscrupulous knight, Sir John Falstaff, who acts as something of a surrogate parent. At the end of the First Part, the revolt is suppressed; in the conflict, Prince Hal reveals his true character as a doughty defender of the realm. In the Second Part, the king’s health progressively declines and Hal begins to assert his royal prerogative. Eventually, the king dies, and Hal, now having shed all his adolescent impertinence, ascends to the throne. Falstaff, in expectation of elevation to high office and new-found prosperity, publicly accosts the new king and is rudely rebuffed, together with his disreputable retinue. Audio edited by Denis Daly The text used for this performance was kindly provided by playshakespeare.com. Welsh dialogue and tune for Lady Mortimer’s song in Henry IV Part One provided by Noni Lewis.

William Shakespeare (Author), Alan Weyman, Blaise Doran, Christopher Dukes, Denis Daly, Geraint Pickard, Graham Scott, Gregory Dwyer, Josh Innerst, Laura E. Richcreek, Noni Lewis, Roberta Jackson, Rory Barnett, Sarah Jane Rose, Shane Emmett, Tim Dehn, a full cast (Narrator)

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[Portuguese] - Hamlet

'Hamlet' é uma das mais renomadas tragédias escritas por William Shakespeare. A trama se desenrola em torno do príncipe Hamlet, que é confrontado com dilemas morais, intriga familiar e o peso da vingança. Após a morte de seu pai e o casamento de sua mãe com seu tio, Hamlet é assombrado pelo espectro de seu pai, que clama por vingança. O livro é uma exploração profunda de temas como loucura, traição, justiça e a natureza da existência humana. Com seus monólogos intensos, personagens complexos e reviravoltas na trama, 'Hamlet' permanece como uma obra-prima que continua a cativar leitores e a inspirar inúmeras interpretações e adaptações ao longo dos séculos. Motivos para ler esta obra: - Exploração Profunda da Psique Humana: 'Hamlet' oferece uma análise penetrante das complexidades da mente humana, mergulhando em temas como dúvida, vingança e loucura. - Diálogos Memoráveis: As palavras eloquentes e os monólogos icônicos de Shakespeare elevam a linguagem teatral a patamares extraordinários, proporcionando uma experiência literária única. - Personagens Profundamente Humanos: Os personagens de 'Hamlet' são ricamente desenvolvidos, retratando uma gama de emoções e motivações que ressoam com a audiência até hoje. - Trama Intrigante e Repleta de Reviravoltas: Com uma trama envolvente de traição, intriga e vingança, 'Hamlet' mantém os leitores cativados do início ao fim. - Relevância Perene: A obra continua a ser relevante ao longo do tempo, explorando temas universais que transcendem as épocas, tornando-a uma leitura atemporal e significativa.

William Shakespeare (Author), Gabriel Maciel (Narrator)

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A Midsummer Night's Dream

William Shakespeare (Author), Robin Schild (Narrator)

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Eight Shakespeare Comedies

This collection contains eight of Shakespeare’s best loved comedies. Each exhibits the vigour, humour, and optimism of the young master before he turned to the gloom and bitterness of the great tragedies. Contents A Midsummer Night’s Dream All’s Well That Ends Well Twelfth Night Much Ado About Nothing The Comedy of Errors As You Like It Measure for Measure The Merchant of Venice Featuring the voices of:Aisling Gray, Alan Weyman, Alexandra Lee Smith, Blaise Doran, Cate Barratt, Catherine Bilson, Claudia Anglade, Dara Brown, David Shears, Denis Daly, Emma Faye, Gary D. MacFadden, Graham Scott, John Burlinson, Josh Innerst, Kendra Murray, Laura Richcreek, Lillian Rachel, Linda Barrans, Mark Crowle-Groves, Marty Krz, PJ Morgan, Roberta Jackson, Ron Altman, Simon Paxton, Susan Iannucci, Tom Saer, and Trisha Rose. Texts kindly provided by playshakespeare.com Songs created and arranged by Alan Weyman and Marty Krz Audio edited by Denis Daly

William Shakespeare (Author), Aisling Gray, Alan Weyman, Alexandra Lee Smith, Blaise Doran, Cate Barratt, Catherine Bilson, Claudia Anglade, Dara Brown, David Shears, Denis Daly, Emma Faye, Gary MacFadden, Graham Scott, John Burlinson, Josh Innerst, Kendra Murray, Laura E. Richcreek, Lillian Rachel, Linda Barrans, Mark Crowle-Groves, Marty Krz, P. J. Morgan, PJ Morgan, Roberta Jackson, Ron Altman, Simon Paxton, Susan Iannucci, Tom Saer, Trisha Rose, a full cast (Narrator)

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A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare-Full Audio Drama Recorded Live by Meadow Sky Productions

'A Midsummer Night's Dream' by Shakespeare Enjoy our live recorded audio version of our theatrical stage production, gently adapted and performed by Meadow Sky Productions in October 2024. If you'd like to support us to create more stories and in turn empower us to elevate our performing arts community, consider supporting us monthly on Patreon, at https://www.patreon.com/c/MeadowSkyProductions Read more about us on our website: ⁠https://www.meadowskyproductions.com/home Instagram: @meadowskyproductions Directed by David Purkey Assistant Directed by Vreyah Palmantier Costumes by Dora Novak Costume Assistance by Lucinda Haigh Cast: Donald Emmerich as Theseus and Oberon Owen Cogen as Egeus and Quince Samuel Soyster as Lysander Isaac Fortune as Demetrius Jessica Hayes as Philostrate and Puck Kaz Paré-Mayer as Bottom Dane Eichelberger as Flute and Cobweb Sergio Carrillo as Snout, First Fairy, Peaseblossom and Attendant Jason Gunder as Snug, Second Fairy, Moth, and Attendant Andrea Carmack as Starveling and Mustardseed Anna Purkey as Helena Lucinda Haigh as Hermia Leah Chole as Hippolyta and Titania Finley Wittenborn as A Fairy and our Understudy of all roles Special thanks to Somni Studios for recording/editing our show!

William Shakespeare (Author), Cast of A Midsummer Night's Dream from Meadow Sky Produ (Narrator)

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As you like it

William Shakespeare (Author), Robin Schild (Narrator)

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Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare's famous tragedy of two 'star-crossed lovers' from rival houses. Romeo and Juliet meet at a party and fall instantly in love, realizing too late that their families, the Montagues and the Capulets, are mortal enemies. Braving parental opposition, the teenage lovers marry in secret, with the aid of the well-intentioned Friar Lawrence. Yet, as Shakespeare has often observed, the course of true love does not run smoothly, and Romeo and Juliet must risk death to be together.

William Shakespeare (Author), various (Narrator)

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