University News Last updated 16 April
Whether you鈥檙e a long-time Shakespeare fan or you鈥檝e never seen one of his plays before, there鈥檚 something for you in our e-resources collection. Not sure where to start? In this article, we鈥檒l take you through a selection of resources related to Shakespeare鈥檚 greatest plays to give you an idea of what is available to you here at BCU.
Watch
Along with essays and guides on Shakespeare鈥檚 plays,听 has a rich variety of productions for you to watch. For example, check out and compare聽 补苍诲听 performances as the iconic tragic hero, Hamlet.
How does Hamlet and Ophelia being played by women bring new interpretations to their relationship? How does this compare with Essiedu鈥檚 production, where the play is performed by a mostly Black cast and set in an African state instead?
Other databases with video content: , , ,听
Listen
Shakespeare鈥檚 plays have inspired centuries of musicians, 补苍诲听 is a fantastic place to listen to these works. Not only can you check out Prokofiev鈥檚聽 in all its glory, you can also find the album booklet, a podcast episode, and watch an interview with the world-renowned conductor Marin Alsop, who has broken down so many barriers for women in music.
Despite its name, Naxos Music Library also features radio plays and performances. For instance, you can listen to the historic 1944 production of , featuring Paul Robeson - the first African American to be cast as Othello in a major production in the United States. The production ran for 296 performances, breaking the record which it still holds for the longest-running Shakespeare play on Broadway.
Other databases of interest: , , ,听
Read
Want to read the original texts for yourself? On , you can聽
The text features explanatory notes, textual variants and performance notes to help you understand and analyse the text. Each play also has its own introductory guide, including a plot summary, historical context and thematic analysis.
And for those curious about the world Shakespeare lived and wrote in, Cambridge Shakespeare also聽 where his works were first performed, and an .
Other databases with literary criticism: , , ,听
For more information, please .
Win a 拢10 Amazon voucher
To celebrate Shakespeare鈥檚 birthday (April 23rd), we鈥檙e offering you the chance to win a 拢10 Amazon voucher by answering the question below.
Question
On which database can you read all of Shakespeare鈥檚 plays?
Answers
- Cambridge Companions to Literature and Classics
- Cambridge Shakespeare
- Oxford Handbooks Literature
Closing date: Friday 9th May, 5pm
Image from Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Royal Shakespeare Company, 2016 The Royal Shakespeare Company - Drama Online, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc