William Shakespeare's impact on the modern world is undeniable. Although his exact birth date in 1564 is unknown, the world celebrates the Bard's birthday on April 23. From the linguistic DNA of more than 1,700 words he gifted to the English language to the psychological complexity of characters like Hamlet and Macbeth, his work continues to provide the blueprint for modern storytelling, including cinematic hits like The Lion King and countless other reimaginings.
Hearing Shakespeare’s dialogue masterfully performed by professionals with the correct emphasis and tone can make all the difference in catching every clever joke and innuendo, picking up on subtle foreshadowing, and sometimes even understanding the plot itself. Whether in his 154 sonnets or numerous plays, Shakespeare’s voice is as vibrant nearly 500 years later as it was in the 16th century.
While Shakespeare’s plays were public spectacles, the 154 sonnets are often viewed as his "emotional autobiography." Now 85, Sir Patrick Stewart draws on 40 years of experience with the Royal Shakespeare Company to perform all of these poems. The culmination of a global phenomenon that began during the COVID-19 pandemic—when he read a sonnet daily on social media to offer "restorative" comfort to millions during lockdown—this definitive recording is nearly four hours long and uniquely features his personal commentary and anecdotes, explaining why specific turns of phrase energised him or how they connect to Stewart’s own life.
Hamlet is widely considered one of Shakespeare's best plays. (In fact, some would argue it is the greatest play of all time—but we'll leave you to decide that on your own). A multilayered tragic drama of love, lust, power, and revenge, Hamlet follows the events that take place after a young prince learns that his recently deceased father was murdered by his uncle, the treacherous Claudius, who now sits on the late king's throne. The Folger Shakespeare Library's audio adaptation does the work absolute justice, with a full cast of players as well as sound effects to help spark the listener's visual imagination. This lovingly rendered production will hold up to even the most exacting Shakespeare aficionado's standards.
The second Shakespearean tragedy and Folger production on our list is one of the Bard's most contextually relevant works for 21st-century listeners. Taking on topics of race, sex, and prejudice, Othello tells the story of a Moorish general whose marriage to a Venetian woman and promotion of a less-experienced soldier provokes his jealous subordinate, Iago, to weave a web of lies and subterfuge that results in widespread death and despair. In this play, Shakespeare coined two now-ubiquitous phrases: "Jealousy is the green-eyed monster" and "wear my heart upon my sleeve." A full cast of talented voice actors makes Iago's complex net of intentional misunderstandings easy to follow, and each cast member's emotional performance ensures the impact of the jealousy, rage, and ultimate regret at the foundation of this classic.
The Scottish Play, as it's widely known among those who've performed it, is shrouded in an air of the unnatural—evidenced by not only actors refusing to refer to it by name for fear of superstitious consequences but also the eerie, otherworldly aura that permeates the work itself. Narrated in part by a trio of witches, Macbeth is the story of a man who, at the urging of his nefarious wife, murders a king in order to seize his throne. But instead of finding fortune and contentment in power, Macbeth is driven to madness by guilt and fear. A comparatively quick listen at just over two hours, Macbeth's brevity only serves to heighten its impact as a tragic fable about morality, power, and hubris.
Like many of the Bard's tragedies, Julius Caesar focuses on a tormented hero caught in an ill-fated power dynamic. Unlike most of his other works, though, this entry is semi-biographical, based on the writings of the historian Plutarch, who recorded the events of the real Roman emperor's life and tragic end. Grappling with complex questions about loyalty, democracy, and power, Julius Caesar brings us some of Shakespeare's notable quotations—"Et tu, Brute"; "Friends, Romans, countrymen"; and "It was Greek to me"—as well as some of his greatest character development and tragic irony. As always, the Folger Theatre's full-cast adaptation ensures that every plot twist and turn of phrase lands perfectly, making this easily one of the best ways to experience the Bard's classic.
Any Shakespeare enthusiast will recognise the names narrating this selection immediately, as all are among the ranks of the most decorated Shakespearean actors in all of Britain. (Those less familiar with Shakespearean actors may recognise Kenneth Branagh as Professor Gilderoy Lockhart of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets fame.) The cast members of this recording have built their careers on performing and interpreting Shakespeare's works thousands of times over, and their expertise in producing this audio adaptation is second to none. In King Lear, the titular monarch's attempts to divide his kingdom fairly among his three daughters are foiled by the jealous manipulation of two of his children—and his own susceptibility to their obvious flattery. As a whole, King Lear stands as a searing indictment of narcissism, greed, and just plain foolishness.
Twelfth Night is the funniest and most well-written of Shakespeare's comedies, which is driven by gender-bending mistaken identities and hopelessly unrequited love. The cast once again features some of the UK's most prominent Shakespearean actors, including Laurence Olivier Award-winning actor Julian Glover and Jonathan Firth (an accomplished performer in his own right, as well as the brother of Academy Award-winning actor and Audie Award-winning narrator, Colin Firth). Through a plot driven by intentional deceptions and confusions of identity, the cast's brilliant character acting brings every nuance and innuendo into detailed focus, resulting in a hilarious audio experience.
Chock-full of all the elements that make the Bard’s more lighthearted fare great, A Midsummer Night’s Dream brings together magic, cunning, love, jealousy ... and one truly dismal play put on by a troupe of hopelessly incompetent actors being manipulated by the fairies that inhabit the forest in which the story is set. The Folger Theatre players’ voice acting is stellar as always, but it’s the gleeful, dynamic performance of the sly sprite Puck that truly makes this adaptation soar.
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy that can also be read as a sly satire highlighting the absurdity inherent in the infatuation stages of young romance. The Folger Theatre's full-cast production is acted to perfection, with Romeo and Juliet's frantic infatuation played at a veritable fever pitch, whilst Mercutio, the Nurse, and the rest of the cast provide the dry wit and juxtapositional irony for which Shakespeare is famous. And at less than three hours in length, it's easy to digest in the span of an afternoon.
If written today, The Tempest might be described as a dark comedy. The play begins when Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, harnesses his supernatural powers to cause a violent storm at sea to shipwreck a vessel carrying, among others, the brother who usurped his position more than a decade ago. With the intention of restoring himself and his daughter to their rightful positions, Prospero's shipwreck sets in motion an unexpected series of events, including a comically ill-fated plot against his own life. If this cocktail of dramatic intrigue weren't enough, the cast is led by the incomparable Sir Ian McKellen as Prospero, making this adaptation of The Tempest an irresistible listen.
Though classified as a comedy and certainly featuring humourous scenes, The Merchant of Venice remains controversial for what many argue are its anti-Semitic themes. The action centres on the Venetian merchant Antonio's decision to borrow money from a Jewish lender named Shylock, who carries a hateful grudge against Antonio for his past prejudicial treatment of the Jewish community. When Antonio is bankrupted and forced to default on the loan, he must contend with the consequences of agreeing to Shylock's gruesome terms, which require he part with a pound of flesh in lieu of timely repayment. Played by a skilled cast of Shakespearean actors (you may recognise Bill Nighy from his roles in Emma and Love Actually), The Merchant of Venice allows the listener to laugh and be looped into the lush world of Renaissance Venice while pondering important questions about the long-lasting wounds of cultural bias.
Looking for the ultimate Shakespeare binge-listen? Spanning 100-plus hours, this audio collection brings together all of Shakespeare's works: 37 plays, four narrative poems, and the sonnets. In one sweeping listen, you'll find A Lover's Complaint, Cymbeline, Timon of Athens, King John, and Henry IV, along with Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, and more. And they're all performed by outstanding British actors, including Ian McKellen, Timothy West, Diana Rigg, Derek Jacobi, Roy Dotrice, and Prunella Scales.
More listens for Shakespeare fans
Samantha Allen's novel is a modern, queer reimagining of A Midsummer Night's Dream that brings the "agent of chaos" to life. Narrated by the author herself, her performance perfectly captures the whimsical, snarky, and chaotic energy of Phoebe, the protagonist of this sapphic rom-com, packed with Shakespearian mischief and flirtatious banter.
Whether you're a theatre geek or just looking for a heartwarming escape, narrator Jen Pogue captures the swoony love story in Lara Stokes's romantic comedy, which feels like a love letter to the stage and the chaos of small-town life. The story follows Miranda Belmont, a wisecracking former child star whose Hollywood career has hit a plateau. Seeking a reset, she returns to her hometown to join a community theatre production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. However, the magical tangle behind the curtain proves just as dramatic as the play itself and provides laugh-out-loud moments with insights on fame and second chances.
History remembers the tragic ends of Othello, Desdemona and Emilia, but it has largely forgotten the one woman who survived: Bianca. Recasting Shakespeare's Othello as a gripping psychological thriller, author Naomi Kelsey brings this minor character to the forefront to ask: Who was the "pale mistress"? As the body count rises and the web of gaslighting tightens, Bianca must navigate the deadly ambitions and envy of those around her—including the notorious villain, Iago. Kelsey is known for her opulent historical fiction, here taking us to 16th-century Cyprus and exploring the visceral cost of survival in a world where truth is fragile and every loyalty comes with a price. It is a story of a woman determined to speak her truth, even when heaven, men, and devils all cry shame against her.
In Kate Heartfield's opulent 13th-century epic, the iconic Romeo and Juliet character Mercutio is reimagined as a complex hero in his own right. Set decades before the events in Verona, the novel follows a young Mercutio on a battlefield where he encounters the charismatic Italian poet Dante Alighieri. Their meeting inadvertently rips a crack between the mortal world and the Faerie realm, an event that literally alters the stars and ties Mercutio's fate to a mysterious, haunting presence for the rest of his life. As exiles, Mercutio and Dante join the Montecchi, a band of fighters near Verona, embarking on a journey filled with political intrigue, Tarot imagery, and a terrifying portrayal of Queen Mab's realm. The story offer a poignant exploration of loyalty and love, and Maxim Reston brings Heartfield's poetic prose to life.
Greg Doran, the former artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, stepped down from his position after the death of his husband, legendary actor Sir Antony Sher, in 2021. This memoir is structured in two distinct parts: The first is a moving account of their final months together. The second part follows Doran's global odyssey to visit as many surviving copies of Shakespeare's First Folio as possible. This quest takes him across continents—from meeting the Emperor of Japan to investigating the Folio's connection to colonialism in South Africa and New Zealand—and by the journey's end, he's viewed over 200 copies, discovering stories of the "scoundrels and scholars" who preserved them. Ultimately, the book is a meditation on how art can provide a path back to life after devastating loss. It's narrated by Doran himself alongside Antony Byrne, an associate artist of the RSC.
The inspiration for a 2025 Academy Award Best Picture nominee, Maggie O'Farrell's New York Times bestseller follows the emotional turmoil that results when Agnes and her playwright husband (whose career is just beginning to take off) lose their young son, Hamnet, to the bubonic plague. Set in 1580s England, this staggering work of historical fiction is firmly grounded in the timeless devastation of loss and grief. Centred on the brief life and impactful death of the Bard's only son, Hamnet offers a wholly unforgettable exploration of a mother's love. Narrated by Jessie Buckley, who won an Oscar for her role as Agnes in the film, the audiobook is unforgettable.
One of Britain's greatest actresses, Dame Judi Dench made her stage debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company as Ophelia in Hamlet. After four seasons of touring, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. And that only marked the beginning of her long, passionate, and storied relationship with the Bard. In this intimate, insightful, and often hilarious retrospective, Dench opens up about every Shakespearean role she has played throughout her seven-decade career, from Juliet to Titania, from Cleopatra to Lady Macbeth. While guiding listeners through Shakespeare's plays, she shares the secrets of her rehearsal process, her personal interpretations of famous scenes, and her most memorable triumphs, disasters, and peculiar moments—like taking a curtain call with a live snake in her wig.
Shakespeare's great tragic love story is reimagined as a novel in this exceptional Audible Original. Author David Hewson brings a feminist edge to Romeo and Juliet whilst further contextualising each moment. With a performance by fan-favourite narrator Richard Armitage—which listeners describe as spellbinding, vivid, and just perfect—this retelling does tribute to the Bard's original drama whilst adding a thoughtful, modern flair and commentary.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anne Tyler brings wit and charm to one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies in Vinegar Girl. A retelling of The Taming of the Shrew, this clever audiobook follows forthright Kate Battista as she is forced to help her scientist father out of a rather pressing predicament. Dr Battista's brilliant lab assistant, Pyotr, holds the key to a great discovery and advancement. Unfortunately, he's being deported. So, Kate's father enlists her help in an absurd plot to keep Pyotr in the country—and hilarity ensues. Kirsten Potter narrates with her signature verve and charm.
Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø is known as one of the foremost authors in Nordic Noir, with dark and thrilling crime novels like The Snowman and The Bat keeping thousands of listeners on the edge of their seats. So, it's only fitting that Nesbø shared his take on one of Shakespeare's most grim plays. His Macbeth modernises the tale, shifting the setting to a crime-ridden industrial town in the 1970s. Here, Duncan is not the King of Scotland but the chief of police, and Hecate not a conniving, soothsaying witch but a sinister drug lord set on manipulating head of SWAT Inspector Macbeth.
Set in a dark fantasy world, Lady Macbeth gives Shakespeare's most notorious villainess a voice, a past, and the power to write her own story. The novel follows Roscille, a woman of mystical beauty and a rumoured witch, as she navigates her marriage to a ruthless Scottish warrior and a treacherous political landscape. Surviving her husband's hostile, suspicious court will be a challenging game of strategy, requiring all of her wiles and hidden gifts—this the Lady knows. Yet, unknown to her, Lord Macbeth has occult secrets of his own. What if her magic is greater... and more dangerous? Richly atmospheric, Ava Reid's masterful reimagining reveals a Lady who is nobody's pawn.
The incredible Margaret Atwood reimagines Shakespeare's final play, and perhaps greatest tragicomedy, The Tempest, in this gripping novel of passion, illusions, second chances, and retribution. As artistic director of the Makeshiweg Theatre Festival, Felix dreams of staging a Tempest like no other—a production to not only boost his reputation but also heal emotional wounds. After being derailed by a staggering act of treachery, he finds himself living in exile, haunted by memories of his beloved lost daughter, Miranda, and brewing revenge. Enter an aspiring troupe of actors locked up in a nearby prison. R. H. Thomson narrates this creative modern retelling of a Shakespeare classic in a rave-worthy performance.
Was William Shakespeare truly the author of the impressive body of work attributed to him? That question, first raised by scholars in the mid-19th century, is at the heart of Jodi Picoult’s riveting historical novel. Even die-hard Stratfordians will get caught up in the story of the brilliant Emilia Bassano (1569-1645), England’s first published female poet and, just maybe, an uncredited playwright. Led by Billie Fulford-Brown, Laura Benanti, and Jayne Entwistle, a stellar ensemble cast captures all the intrigue, subterfuge, and plot twists in Emilia’s drama. Be sure to listen to the Author’s Note at the end, in which Picoult presents a rigorously researched case against Shakespeare being the sole author of his 37 plays.
Ask anyone who's ever studied a Shakespearean work, whether it be in the classroom or for their own pleasure, and they'll tell you that deciphering the Bard's intent isn't always simple. Luckily, this Great Courses guide to reading and understanding Shakespeare makes the process a whole lot easier. Over the course of 24 lectures, this listen shares tips and tools for better understanding a play's narrative and grasping each and every detail, so you can ultimately enjoy listening to Shakespeare's masterpieces even more.
