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Hamlet
- A BBC Radio Production
- Narrated by: Michael Sheen, Kenneth Cranham, Juliet Stevenson, Full Cast
- Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins
- Performance
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Drama & Plays
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The multi-award-winning SmartPass study guide with and without commentary options. Full-cast, unabridged performance with comprehensive commentary and analysis for any student to fully understand and appreciate the play.
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Sure Pass with Smartpass
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Infamously known as the cursed Scottish play, Macbeth is perhaps Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy. When General Macbeth is foretold by three witches that he will one day be King of Scotland, Lady Macbeth convinces him to get rid of anyone who could stand in his way – including committing regicide. As Macbeth ascends to the throne through bloody murder, he becomes a tyrant consumed by fear and paranoia.
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Great performance
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Classic BBC Radio Shakespeare: Tragedies
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Three powerful radio productions from the BBC archives starring Ian McKellen, Ronald Pickup and Paul Scofield and a host of celebrated acting talent. These three legendary plays, performed by some of the best-known theatrical actors of the 20th century, are the perfect way to commemorate England's greatest dramatist.
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Not an easy listen
- By Culwen on 14-02-20
Summary
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 Kenneth Cranham as Claudius, Juliet Stevenson as Gertrude and Ellie Beaven as Ophelia.
BBC radio has a unique heritage when it comes to Shakespeare. Since 1923, when the newly formed company broadcast its first full-length play, generations of actors and producers have honed and perfected the craft of making Shakespeare to be heard.
In this acclaimed BBC Radio Shakespeare series, each play is introduced by Richard Eyre, former Director of the Royal National Theatre. Revitalised, original and comprehensive, this is Shakespeare for the modern day.
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What listeners say about Hamlet
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Wordwatcher7
- 09-12-13
Gripping Version
Would you consider the audio edition of BBC Radio Shakespeare to be better than the print version?
This version of Hamlet brings Shakespeare's drama to life. Martin Sheen and a fantastic supporting cast do justice to the fact that all Shakespeare's plays were written to be performed. The actor's voices lift the word off the page.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Hamlet, not surprisingly, is the towering presence in this version as Sheen adds new meaning to familiar speeches but I also enjoyed the portrayal of Ophelia as a strong female character, making her demise all the more poignant.
What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
Experienced actors bring new meaning and understanding to the play, which is in itself astoundingly relevant despite it's age and longevity.
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Beware the smiling assassin!
Any additional comments?
Loved it! Especially useful if you are studying the play at school or University
4 people found this helpful
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- metaldog
- 19-02-19
Fine rendering of the play ...
I enjoyed this presentation of Hamlet immensely. Many of the actors are indeed British stalwarts and this showed clearly in this perfect rendering of the play. Kenneth Cranham made an excellent Claudius with THAT voice. The only thing I did not like was the preface - as the conclusions drawn about the play were unnecessary and many readers would disagree strongly with this person's assessment of the play's meaning.
2 people found this helpful
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- Andrew
- 30-09-15
Stellar cast bring play to life
Superb cast make this not only highly listenable but also very comprehensible. You might think that an audio-only Shakespeare play would be hard to follow, with characters entering and exiting, but this production works very well. It rattles along at a brisk pace, and grips with the layers of deceit and evil. Kenneth Cranham, as the murderous Claudius, particularly oozes with horrible charm.
2 people found this helpful
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- ROB MCSWEENEY
- 27-04-19
Atmospheric performance
Wonderfully directed, fluid, pacy, moving production. Also a great experience to hear the full text, not a word cut. Love it.
1 person found this helpful
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- Lisa
- 11-11-20
Utterly brilliant
Fantastic rendition of Hamlet, superb cast, very clear sound; I loved every minute of it.
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- Flipflop9
- 13-02-13
For use in my English class
Would you consider the audio edition of BBC Radio Shakespeare to be better than the print version?
No, but I think that reading the play while listening to this enhances the experience, for this fully dramatized version has different actors for all the parts and the sound effects enhance many of the Acts, especially the final battle.
Any additional comments?
I use this audio version in my classroom, and it really helps my students to follow along with the audio as we read the play. The performance is the best version of Hamlet I have heard.
5 people found this helpful
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- Nik Logan
- 02-07-10
Very Enjoyable
This is a very good reading of Hamlet and any lover of the material will enjoy it. I especially loved Michael Sheen's characterization of the melancholy dane. He was unstable, angry and emotional. In my opinion, this is exactly how Hamlet SHOULD be played. As I listened I could visualize everything in my head as though I were watching it on a screen. In fact, I am now eager to see Michael Sheen play Hamlet on stage (apparently he will be doing so in London in 2011). I recommend this audiobook version of Hamlet to all Hamlet fans.
4 people found this helpful
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- Shelagh
- 17-06-17
An Excellent Version for Students
Michael Sheen (Hamlet) and Kenneth Cranham (Polonius) give especially memorable performances in a well-executed version of Shakespeare's famous tragedy.
I used this audiobook while studying the play for a university course and found that reading along with the audiobook added depth and understanding to the text.
Well worth it.
3 people found this helpful
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- Darryl
- 28-09-14
high marks for this version
I've recently listened to several of the plays and this Hamlet a few times in past couple of weeks and I have to say this is a very good version: well acted, nice production and vigorous performances that I liked for Hamlet and Claudius particularly. The man in Claudius role sounds like James Mason. All in all a good performance. & as much as I respect Gielgud his audio version here feels so slow and ponderous that I have trouble with it. I also like the Branagh film version very much with a couple of caveats, but accessible. All the plays can be performed with such a range of approach that it is informative to pick up on a different intonation/emphasis of even a single word that makes you think, wait a minute, I never realized that aspect before, or that's a new approach. Literally a "poem unlimited."
1 person found this helpful
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- S. Ellis
- 08-11-20
One of the Best
An excellent, well-rounded production. The language was natural to the performers which made it very easy for me to understand what was being said or conveyed, Shakespearean English notwithstanding. I’ve watched or listened to many Hamlets. This is truly one of the best!
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- Jack Brenin
- 28-06-19
I loved this.
Hamlet holds a special place in my goth little heart and I really think this is far and away my favorite adaptation Of any I’ve ever heard. Michael Sheen is a dream. He’s like, the perfect Hamlet. The whole cast, in fact, is just freakin splendid. I’ll be listening to this again and again.
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- David
- 03-01-11
Does the job
Michael Sheen is a very good Dane - excitable and passionate. Everyone else is competent but forgettable.
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- Elizabeth
- 21-01-10
I wanted to love it
But just didn't. I think most likely wasn't the material, but the medium. While there was different voices for different characters, it was hard to follow who was saying what and how the story tied together. Probably better read than listened to.
1 person found this helpful