All's Well That Ends Well

Guidance 13+ • 2h 41m

Set against the backdrop of the First World War, this Stratford Festival production reimagines Shakespeare’s comedy of unrequited love. In a daring adaptation by Scott Wentworth, Helen will go to any lengths to win the acceptance of the man she loves. Filmed live at the Tom Patterson Theatre in September 2022, this version explores the moral ambiguities in Shakespeare’s classic tale of devotion.

Hamlet

Guidance 13+ • 2h 45m

This bold adaptation of Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy explores identity, family, and revenge through a modern lens. Directed by Peter Pasyk and starring Amaka Umeh, the first artist of African descent and liminal gender experience to portray Hamlet at the Stratford Festival, this production shines a light on contemporary issues of selfhood and morality. Captured live at the Festival Theatre in October 2022.

Othello

Guidance 15+ • 2h 40m

Rumours feed irrational jealousy in Shakespeare’s gripping psychological drama, filmed at the Stratford Festival in 2019. Othello and Desdemona defy racial prejudice by marrying, but deadly malice lurks where they least expect it. Nigel Shawn Williams’ contemporary adaptation exposes the racism and misogyny at the heart of this tragic tale.

Death and the King's Horseman

Guidance 13+ • 2h 33m

Written by Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka and inspired by a true story, this masterpiece celebrates a community striving to uphold its culture in the face of colonial power. In British-occupied Nigeria, a Yoruba king, the Alafin, has died, and it is the duty of his horseman, Elesin, to accompany him into the afterlife. Elesin proudly anticipates his transition to the next world – but the sacred ritual is interrupted, resulting in unforeseen tragedy. Captured live at Stratford Festival, 2022.

The Red Shoes

Guidance All Ages • 1h 36m

Matthew Bourne’s double Olivier award-winning ballet The Red Shoes tells a spellbinding tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. Victoria Page lives to pursue artistic greatness as a dancer, but her ambitions become a battleground for the entangled relationships that drive her dreams. Based on Powell and Pressburger’s film of the same name, Matthew Bourne’s signature artistry creates a fresh, entrancing and heartbreaking adaptation, featuring Bernard Herrmann’s rich score. The Red Shoes was captured live at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in 2020.

Macbeth

Guidance 12+ • 2h 4m

Shakespeare’s tragic tale of murder, manipulation and witchcraft is brought to life in this contemporary production which marks both Christopher Eccleston’s RSC debut and the return of Niamh Cusack to the Company. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon, Polly Findlay’s dark reimagining employs elements of horror to encapsulate Macbeth’s psychological trauma through sound, lighting and illusions. Production photography by Richard Davenport.

Swan Lake

All Ages • 2h 6m

Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov choreograph Tchaikovsky's timeless story of good against evil, in the greatest of Romantic ballets. Prince Siegfried chances upon a flock of swans while out hunting. When one of the swans turns into a beautiful woman he is instantly captivated – will his love prove strong enough to break the evil spell that she is under?

Dido and Aeneas

All Ages • 1h 1m

The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera join forces for Wayne McGregor’s acclaimed fusion of music and movement. Baroque composer Henry Purcell’s classical tale of love thwarted by evil powers stars Sarah Connolly as Dido, Queen of Carthage and Lucas Meachem as Trojan hero Aeneas. Sung in English, with English subtitles.

La Traviata

All Ages • 2h 15m

Verdi’s best-loved work is performed by a star cast in a revival of Richard Eyre’s highly acclaimed 1994 production. Alfredo and the courtesan Violetta fall passionately in love. But Violetta is seriously ill and Alfredo’s father disapproves of their relationship – can their love overcome such obstacles?

Coriolanus

12+ • 2h 24m

Set in the context of 1930s Fascism, Steven Berkoff's reimagining of William Shakespeare's final tragedy brings power to the masses as they turn against their ambitious leader, Coriolanus. This highly physical and meticulously choreographed production was captured live at the Globe Theatre in Tokyo. With a minimalist set design and striking use of colour and costume, Berkoff utilises the ensemble to create special effects, props and environments using movement and sounds in this politically charged adaptation.

Romeo and Juliet

12+ • 2h 51m

Adetomiwa Edun and Ellie Kendrick are the star-crossed lovers in Dominic Dromgoole's fresh and vibrant take on Shakespeare's famous tragedy. The dangerous and forbidden love between Romeo and Juliet is the catalyst that finally sends the warring families of Montague and Capulet head to head. Marriages, murder, exile and poison all feature in this powerful tale of doomed romance.

Othello

Guidance 12+ • 3h 41s

Jealousy prevails in William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy; the ‘green-eyed monster’ slowly consumes Othello (Eamonn Walker) at the encouragement of the bitter Iago (Tim McInnerny). Captured live at Shakespeare’s Globe, this 2007 production marks the theatre’s first staging of Othello.

Antony and Cleopatra

All Ages • 2h 32m

Shakespeare’s rendering of an epic love affair that shook the foundations of the ancient world comes to vivid life in this Stratford Festival production. Filmed live in 2015, Geraint Wyn Davies and Yanna McIntosh star as the powerful rulers whose insatiable love leads to the greatest of tragedies.

Coriolanus

Guidance All Ages • 2h 29m

Coriolanus traces the turbulent career of its eponymous hero, an arrogant Roman general who turns on the city after being exiled. Stratford Festival's distinctive production adapts Shakespeare's political allegory to explore modern democracy, particularly the connection between public opinion, freedom of speech and social media.

Hamlet

All Ages • 2h 46m

Shakespeare’s masterpiece unfolds in this acclaimed production from Stratford Festival, in which a ghostly visit proves to be the catalyst for a catastrophic and violent sequence of events.

Romeo and Juliet

Guidance All Ages • 2h 33m

Shakespeare’s famous tragedy of two star-crossed lovers is brought to life in this captivating production by the Stratford Festival. Filmed live at the festival in 2018, Sara Farb and Antoine Yard star as the teenagers who defy the long-simmering hatred between their families in the name of love. *Contains mild violence and suicidal themes

Oedipus

Guidance All Ages • 1h 48m

Steven Berkoff brings Sophocles’ tragedy to life in this vivid retelling of the condemned King and his battle with destiny. Captured live at the Nottingham Playhouse, this dynamic adaptation conveys Oedipus' downfall through carefully constructed movements, larger-than-life expressions and a compelling ensemble performance. Drawing on inspiration from Greek tragedy and Berkoff’s training with Jacques Lecoq, the chorus drive the narrative of Oedipus’ emotional and physical journey through mime, tableaux and masks. The minimalist set, influenced by both Renaissance and modern art, provides a surreal backdrop to the building tension as Oedipus discovers the disturbing truth about his family.

Timon of Athens

Guidance 14+ • 2h 7m

Shakespeare’s tale of wealth and greed is reimagined in this Royal Shakespeare Company production starring the Olivier Award-winning Kathryn Hunter as Timon, whose fortune runs dry after living a life of luxury. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2018, Simon Godwin’s dark satire charts Timon’s descent from opulence to poverty, magnified by Soutra Gilmour’s lavish set and costume design. Production photography by Simon Annand

Julius Caesar

Guidance 12+ • 1h 56m

The first instalment of Phyllida Lloyd’s groundbreaking all-female Shakespeare Trilogy sees Dame Harriet Walter take on the role of Brutus, who wrestles with his moral conscience over the murder of Julius Caesar. The Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy began in 2012 with this diverse interpretation of Julius Caesar and was followed by Henry IV in 2014 and The Tempest in 2016. Set in the world of a women’s prison, these critically acclaimed productions were captured live at Donmar Kings Cross and co-produced by the Donmar Warehouse and Illuminations. Julius Caesar was selected for the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2017 and nominated for the Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film. Contains scenes of violence

Romeo and Juliet

All Ages • 2h 27m

Shakespeare’s most tragic love story is revived in this modern interpretation by the Royal Shakespeare Company where two star-crossed lovers risk everything to be together. Captured live in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Erica Whyman’s lively reimagining focuses on the pains of adolescence and stars Charlotte Josephine as the bold Mercutio. Production photos by Topher McGillis

Coriolanus

2h 44m

Thought to be his final tragedy, Shakespeare’s tale of political manoeuvring and maternal love is brought to life in this modernised production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon, Angus Jackson’s blood-soaked adaptation questions where authority should lie, while the various power players engage in hand-to-hand combat across the stage. Production photography by Helen Maybanks

Titus Andronicus

All Ages • 2h 51m

Thought to be his first tragedy, Shakespeare’s tale of family, betrayal and revenge is brought to bloody life in this modern-dress production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon, Blanche McIntyre’s striking adaptation is a study into the nature of grief and violence, as street fights and lootings mark Rome’s desperate descent into anarchy. Production photography by Helen Maybanks

Antony and Cleopatra

Guidance 12+ • 3h 4m

One of his longest plays, Shakespeare’s interpretation of the Antony and Cleopatra story is brought to vivid life in this period-dress production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon, this adaptation won critical acclaim for the two actors in the eponymous roles, and saw the battle at sea played out using toy ships. Production photography by Helen Maybanks

Eugene Onegin

All Ages • 3h 18m

A foolish decision leads to a series of tragic events as young Tatyana is left heartbroken by the eponymous hero. Created and directed by the renowned Rimas Tuminas, this magical reimagining of Alexander Pushkin’s verse novel combines elements of intense silences and spellbinding visuals, expressing the pain of unrequited love and the regret of past mistakes. This production was captured by Stage Russia HD at the Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow.

Hamlet

3h 32s

Considered to be one of the greatest tragedies of all time, Shakespeare’s tale of murder and revenge is brought to life in this critically acclaimed and visually striking production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon, Simon Godwin's fresh retelling, set in an unnamed African state, sees Paapa Essiedu shine in the title role, becoming the first Black actor to play Hamlet for the RSC.

Hamlet

Guidance All Ages • 3h 4m

Captured in the round at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, this production of Shakespeare's classic tragedy boldly reimagines gender across the characters. Maxine Peake, a leading British talent, stars as the first UK female Hamlet on a major stage for 35 years. The production continues director Sarah Frankcom’s work at the REM, now lauded as the UK’s ‘first mainstream feminist theatre.’

King Lear

3h 1m

Considered one of his finest tragedies, Shakespeare’s tale of family, ageing and madness is brought to life in this critically acclaimed production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon, this adaptation emphasised the pagan setting, complete with ritual chanting, and cast 24 local Midlands men in the roles of Lear’s followers.

Othello

All Ages • 2h 59m

One of his most heartbreaking tragedies, Shakespeare’s tale of love, jealousy and deceit is brought to life in this ground-breaking production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon, Iqbal Khan’s adaptation was the first at the RSC to cast a Black actor, Lucian Msamati, in the role of Iago.

Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette

All Ages • 1h 36m

In this groundbreaking take on William Shakespeare’s bittersweet tragedy, Hector Berlioz combines the playwright’s influence with all the musical drama of Ludwig van Beethoven’s symphonies. The Bard proved to be one of the enduring influences on Berlioz throughout his life. The composer described his first encounter with Shakespeare’s work as a ‘thunderbolt’ that changed his life – and musical imagination – forever.

Cymbeline

3h 8m

One of his least performed plays, Shakespeare’s tale of romance and reconciliation is brought to life in this dystopian production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon, this adaptation reimagined Cymbeline as a queen rather than a king, making Gillian Bevan the first woman to play the title role at the RSC.

La bohème

All Ages • 1h 53m

A lost key and an accidental touch of cold hands in the dark – so begins one of the great romances of all opera. When Rodolfo, a penniless poet, meets Mimì, a seamstress, they fall passionately in love. But their happiness is threatened when Rodolfo learns that Mimì is gravely ill in John Copley's striking production.

King Lear

Guidance 12+ • 2h 43m

King Lear is considered by many to be Shakespeare’s finest tragedy. Lear, in dividing up his kingdom to his three daughters, gradually descends into madness, ultimately bringing tragedy upon all concerned. This production was captured by Digital Theatre live at London’s Almeida Theatre as part of the 2012 World Shakespeare Festival. Directed by the Almeida’s Artistic Director, Michael Attenborough, it starred the award-winning Jonathan Pryce as a Lear said to be “electrifying naturalistic” by the Independent on Sunday, “changeable as the weather, warm and gentle, shaken and ferociously raging.”"

Macbeth

Guidance 12+ • 2h 30m

Counted among his greatest tragedies, Shakespeare’s unsettling combination of warring soldiers and ‘weird sisters’ is brought to life in this post-apocalyptic reimagining of the Scottish play. This production, captured by Digital Theatre live in Liverpool, was directed by Artistic Director Gemma Bodinetz and was the valedictory performance at the original Everyman Theatre. It starred Liverpool Everyman Youth Theatre alumnus David Morrissey in the title role opposite Julia Ford as Lady Macbeth. "