THE WINTER'S TALE: A BBC RADIO 3 PRODUCTION

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

Passion, politics, love and death combine in the story of the legendary love triangle between Mark Antony, Octavian, and Cleopatra the Queen of Egypt.

AS YOU LIKE IT

When Rosalind is banished by her uncle Duke Frederick, who has usurped her father's throne, she flees to the forest of Arden. There, dressed as a boy to avoid discovery, she encounters the man she loves - Orlando, similarly forced into exile by his older brother Oliver - and resolves to remain in disguise to test his feelings or her.

CORIOLANUS

Through Coriolanus's searing scorn for the turbulent citizens of Rome, Shakespeare shows how the qualities that make a successful and heroic general in wartime fail to translate to a time of peace.

HAMLET: PRINCE OF DENMARK

Murder and treachery at the court of the King of Denmark where the young Prince Hamlet seeks to avenge his father's murder at the hand of his brother Claudius.

HENRY IV (PART ONE)

Bolingbroke, the decisive usurper of Richard II, has been transformed into the careworn King Henry IV, thwarted in his desire to expiate his guilt by going on crusade due to the threat of civil war. His wayward son is won over by the decadent charms of Falstaff but wins a decisive battle.

HENRY V

Political unrest abounds in England after King Henry IV dies. His young son, Henry V, is left to take the throne and deal with suspected treason, the invasion of France, and a royal courtship. Two knaves and a braggart provide comic relief.

JULIUS CAESAR

Julius Caesar is the most successful general Rome has ever had, and now he wants to be king. Cassius, Brutus and other senators are determined not to see power fall into the hands of one man. And so they plot to kill him.

KING LEAR

King Lear unwisely decides to divide his Kingdom among his three daughters, but treachery and greed lead to tragedy.

KING RICHARD III

Richard emerges from the chaos which surrounds the reign of Henry VI determined to become king by removing his elder brother Edward IV, by convincing him that their brother Clarence is plotting against the crown. The series of murders and conspiracies that Richard masterminds confirms his claim that "I am determined to prove a villain".

MACBETH

Promised a golden future as ruler of Scotland by three sinister witches, Macbeth murders the king to ensure his ambitions come true. But he soon learns the meaning of terror - killing once, he must kill again and again, and the dead return to haunt him.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

In the Duke's absence from Vienna, his strict deputy Angelo receives an ancient law forbidding sex outside marriage. The young Claudio, whose fiancée is pregnant, is condemned to death by the law. His sister Isabella, soon to become a nun, pleads with Lord Angelo for her brother's life.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

A Venetian merchant, Antonio, borrows money from Shylock, a Jewish money-lender, to help his friend Bassanio, woo the beautiful Portia. Shylock stipulates that if Antonio defaults, he will claim a pound of Antonio's flesh. When Antonio's ships are lost at sea, Shylock calls in the debt and Portia disguises herself as a lawyer to defend him.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

In this romantic comedy, Hermia is promised to Demetrius but is in love with Lysander. Helena is in love with Demetrius. The lovers flee to the forest, followed by Demetrius and Helena, where they meet the merry Puck with his magic love juice.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

A vivacious woman and a high-spirited man both claim that they are determined never to marry. But when their friends trick them into believing that each harbours secret feelings for the other, they begin to question whether their witty banter and sharp-tongued repartee conceals something deeper.

OTHELLO

A tale of love, betrayal, secrets and intrigue. Psychology and wit pit strength and virtue against jealousy and evil agendas. The results leave no winners, only tragedy in the lives of the jealous Moor Othello, and his wife, Desdemona.

ROMEO AND JULIET

A romantic tragedy of two teenagers from rival families who fall in love. A sentence of exile and an impending arranged marriage force the two to flee. A friar suggests a ruse to accomplish their union, but miscommunication causes it to backfire.

THE SONNETS

Much-quoted and greatly loved, these sonnets have given rise to a great deal of debate as to the identity of the Dark Lady and the extent to which the content may be taken as autobiographical.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

The beautiful but sharp-tongued 'shrew' Katherina has sworn never to accept the demands of any would-be husband. But when Katherina is pursued by the wily Petruchio, it seems that she has finally met her match.

THE TEMPEST

Prospero, Duke of Milan, is usurped and cast adrift with his daughter Miranda by his brother Antonio. Years later Prospero uses magical powers to cause a shipwreck, thus getting his revenge on Antonio.

TWELFTH NIGHT

A comedy about a brother and sister who are twins but when they are separated by a shipwreck, mistaken identities and lovers' problems precede their eventual reunion.

THE WINTER'S TALE

Perdita, abandoned as a baby and brought up by shepherds, falls in love with Prince Florizel. When she is revealed as the daughter of a king, their love corrects the misunderstandings of the older generation.