Recorded live at the Shakespeare’s Globe, 2015.

Shakespeare set this darkest of comedies in Vienna to cloak a scathing critique of hypocrisy in the corrupt authority of his own London. Purity and mercy do win out in the end, but not before audiences are treated to the lighter side of depravity in a ‘riotously enjoyable’ (The Independent) ‘crowd-pleasing saucy romp’ (Evening Standard). In this, his Globe Theatre farewell, Director Dominic Dromgoole’s ‘buoyant production’ (Guardian) casts a Mariah Gale ‘so centred and self-possessed that Isabella’s conviction seems to reach every corner of the house without once turning cloying’ (New York Times).

REVIEW:

Mariah Gale is an outstanding Isabella.

-- The Sunday Times (UK)

This collection brings together Globe Theatre productions dating from 2010 to 2015 – during the artistic directorship of Dominic Dromgoole – of Shakespeare’s Major Tetralogy of Histories, recounting the youth and ascendance of Henry V of England. Featuring the finest actors and leading directors, it is part of a project committed to creating ever wider access to this rich cultural heritage. Richard II features wonderfully virtuosic language portraying the entitled, vain, aloof, then suddenly vulnerable King. In the wake of his overthrow, Shakespeare’s greatest historical saga begins, an epic pair of plays telling of power, treachery and war, surveying the entire panorama of English life, and exploring the complexity of father-son relationships, including that between King Henry IV and his undisciplined successor, Prince Hal. In the final play, as a mature King Henry V, he recites one of most famous speeches ever written, as Shakespeare recalls a truly great English victory. The films in this set capture the unique atmosphere and theatrical space of the Globe Theatre. The exhilarating sense of interaction between the actors on stage and the audience in live performances is exquisitely maintained on screen.

Rebellion and maturity run through Shakespeare's histories like a single twisted thread, exemplified by the tearaway turned - hero Hal and his forever adolescent associate Falstaff, who deserves and gets a comedy to himself in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Lives real and imagined, nobles and beggars, Tudor history and culture all spring to vivid life on the stage of the Globe Theatre in award-winning productions featuring many fine British actors and original music played by a Shakespearean pit band playing period instruments.

Reviews

"Henry IV is the Shakespeare play that's perfectly suited to the Globe. In Dominic Dromgoole's intelligent, faithful andentertaining new production, Sir John Falstaff, that 'sweet creature of bombast', might have stopped for a pint of sack in Southwark en route for a rendezvous with Doll Tearsheet at the Boar's Head." (The Guardian on Henry IV 1-2)

"A joyous spectacle." (The Sunday Telegraph on Henry VIII)

"Oustanding." (The Guardian on Henry VIII)

"Audiences tend to adore this play, in which Shakespeare genially celebrates his own middle-class English provincial background and seeks to do nothing more than entertain - which he does, splendidly. The Merry Wives, with its ridiculous foreigners, jealous husbands and scenes of low farce, keeps you chuckling almost throughout." (The Daily Telegraph on The Merry Wives of Windsor)

Capped by one of the most famous speeches ever written, Shakespeare’s Henry V recalls a truly great English victory. With comic sub-plots to be found among Henry’s soldiers, the production boasts some terrific performances – including Sam Cox as the ‘splendidly unhinged’ Pistol (The Daily Telegraph). In the title role is Jamie Parker, who ‘casts such a rapt spell that you feel the entire audience would rise up to march behind him’ (The Independent). Filmed in High Definition and true Surround Sound.

REVIEWS:

"...it works a treat, and the pacing is superb, helped by the inspired idea of giving the role of the Chorus to the birdlike Irish actress Brid Brennan – who flits about in the guise of a serving wench, like the slighted spirit of “Her-story”. Elsewhere, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Ely (Paul Rider and Brendan O’Hea) entertainingly hatch plots while taking it in turns on the privy; and the Welshman Captain Fluellen (O’Hea again) is a garrulous hoot, at the vanguard of the play’s amused sense of Britain’s emergent, bickering nationhood. And Sam Cox makes for a splendidly unhinged Pistol, all wayward delivery and shifty body-language. In the end, though, the evening acts as a chastening reminder of what a country needs when it’s up against it." (The Daily Telegraph ★★★★)

"... another enjoyably sharp production from this resurgent venue — and we have artistic director Dominic Dromgoole to thank on both counts." (Evening Standard ★★★★)

"This production, directed by Dominic Dromgoole, is period costume, loyally done, blessed with a ruggedly decent Henry. Jamie Parker is handsome, calm, easy in his skin." (The Daily Mail ★★★★)

"Henry V was written for mass appeal, a patriotic celebration of what it is to be English for better or worse. Dromgoole’s production plays to these strengths and as such marks a cultural high point in the 2012 celebrations." (The Stage)

Julius Caesar is Shakespeare’s tense drama of high politics, one which reveals the emotional currents that flow between men in power, with themes that still resonate even today. Staged in Elizabethan dress with Roman accessories and with music played on period instruments, Dominic Dromgoole’s Globe production is ‘fleet, urgent, exciting and dangerous’ (Financial Times), combining ‘freshness of acting’ (Daily Telegraph) with an expert use of the theatre crowd and space that stylishly underscores Shakespeare’s thrilling dissection of politics in action.

REVIEWS:

"Fleet, urgent, exciting and dangerous. " (The Financial Times ★★★★)

"There is a rapport between the performers and the audience that feels genuinely magical." (The Daily Telegraph ★★★★)

"Dominic Dromgoole’s robustly energetic production..." (The Guardian)

"Dromgoole's taut, thriller-ish production" (Time Out ★★★★)

"Does well to capture that atmosphere of fear and distrust..." (WhatsOnStage ★★★★)

"[A] swift and impassioned revival...a perfect match of play to the venue." (The Stage ★★★★)

"...captivating...suits the Globe to a tee" (The Daily Telegraph ★★★★)

"...quietly devastating..." (The Independent)

"...has both clarity and a gory immediacy..." (Evening Standard)

Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well centers on the tale of Helena’s quest to marry the man she loves, the rather unimpressed Bertram, who initially refuses her due to her lack of social standing. Aided by fellow conspirator Diana, Helena devises a fail-safe scheme to ensnare her man. The production, directed by John Dove, stars Sam Crane and Ellie Piercey as Bertram and Helena, and includes performances by James Garnon as troublemaker Parolles and Janie Dee as Bertram’s interfering mother, the Countess of Roussillon. With lavish staging and costume, the production is a triumph that, according to The Independent, ‘leaves the audience reeling with happiness by the end.’

Reviews

"With so much to praise, it is hard to prioritise, but here goes..." (The Independent)

"This is a good, clear, well-spoken production by John Dove of one of Shakespeare's most beguiling but least-loved plays." (The Guardian)

The first installment of what is widely acknowledged to be Shakespeare’s greatest historical saga, Henry IV Part 1 is an epic tale of power, treachery and war, exploring the complexity of father-son relationships. Featuring an Olivier award-winning performance from Roger Allam as Falstaff, the comical mentor to Jamie Parker’s Prince Hal, this is a celebrated presentation of the English classic, expertly directed by Dominic Dromgoole.

REVIEWS:

"Henry IV is the Shakespeare play that's perfectly suited to the Globe. In Dominic Dromgoole's intelligent, faithful and entertaining new production, Sir John Falstaff, that 'sweet creature of bombast', might have stopped for a pint of sack in Southwark en route for a rendezvous with Doll Tearsheet at the Boar's Head." (The Guardian)

"It is the first time these wonderful plays have been staged at the reconstructed globe and it may be one of this theatres finest achievements." (The Daily Telegraph)

From its mesmerizing first moments to the final fulfillment of the witches’ prophecy, Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s darkest and most powerful tragedies – a gripping account of one man’s determination to secure his ambition and pronounced destiny, the crown of Scotland, by whatever means necessary. Filmed in High Definition and true surround sound, this production marked actor Eve Best’s sensational debut as a director and was described as ‘cracking – at times, terrifying’ (Daily Telegraph). Joseph Millson and Samantha Spiro lead the cast, offering ‘superb fresh-minted performances’ as the power-obsessed Macbeth and his increasingly guilt-ridden wife.

Reviews

Samantha Spiro as Lady Macbeth and Joseph Millson as Macbeth give a rousing, frenetic portrait of a power-couple with a compulsion for bloodshed...Millson’s constant disbelief at what he is doing is a source of much of the production’s humour. But because he performs with such conviction, cumulatively it also packs a horrific punch – not least when he makes grasp for his wife’s throat...one of the warmest productions of ‘Macbeth’ you’ll ever see, but one which still strikes the requisite chill to the heart. Time Out

Millson [delivers] the famous “sound and fury” speech with a quiet desperation and indeed it is in the play’s quieter moments when he is given the chance to stand still that he really shines. The Upcoming

"Eve Best's directorial debut is a cracking – at times, terrifying – production of Macbeth." (The Daily Telegraph on Macbeth)

Twins Sebastian and Viola are shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, separated and believing each other to be dead. Beside herself with grief, Viola disguises herself as a boy and goes into the service of the Duke Orsino. The Duke, madly in love with the Countess Olivia, sends Viola to woo on his behalf. What could possibly go wrong? Olivia falls in love with the cross-dressed page while Viola falls deep and fast for Orsino. Meanwhile, mischievous servants play painful pranks at each other’s expense. Heady chaos ensues as griefs, loves and deep human confusions collide, but fear not! Sweet resolution wins the day as friends, twins and lovers are reunited. Cross-dressing, hijinks and bittersweet hilarity as Emma Rice directs Shakespeare’s timeless, soulful and irrepressible comedy – in a production unlike any other, taking the spirit and frivolity of disco to the high seas!

Reviews

"Twelfth Night reserves its sharpest barbs for purists and puritans. The humiliation of Malvolio, with his rule-bound antipathy to everything the play celebrates – excesses of music and food and love – is its abiding image. Rarely can that theme have seemed as pointed as in Emma Rice’s life-loving production at the Globe. Rice finds in Twelfth Night a brilliant reminder that, set against love and life, melancholy can be a little overrated." (The Guardian ★★★★)

"I watched much of the show with a broad smile on my face, both for its audacity and downright cheek...the most entertaining, exciting Twelfth Night for years...wonderfully refreshing." (The Daily Mail ★★★★★)

"Twelfth Night is often seen as Shakespeare's "perfect comedy", and in the hands of Emma Rice and her cast this production certainly lives up to those expectations. It's entertaining, heartfelt and extremely uplifting." (Broadway World ★★★★★)

" ...this show is pretty much essential viewing." (The Daily Telegraph ★★★★)

"It boasts an exuberant cast – blessed with a widely lauded performance from Katy Owen as Malvolio – and even some of Rice’s staunchest opponents admit that it generates mountains of feel-good energy." (The Stage)

"Audiences should take note: drop your guard, forget 'proper Shakespeare blah blah' and just enjoy. This Twelfth Night's a delight: a cheek-ache from start to finish. Great art? Probably not. Great fun? You bet." (WhatsOnStage ★★★★)

This special set brings together three of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedies, from the hilarious tale of misdirection and deception that is Twelfth Night to the slapstick humor of The Taming of Shrew and the magic and mischief that jointly characterize A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Brimming with first-class British acting – including stand-out performances from such lauded individuals as Michelle Terry, Samantha Spiro, Mark Rylance and Stephen Fry – this trio of award-winning Globe Theatre productions brilliantly underscores the humor that is inherent in each of the three Elizabethan dramas, with inventive staging, outstanding costumes and original music performed on period-style instruments providing the finishing touches to a must-have collection.

Reviews

"Although this is ensemble theatre at its finest, it’s Rylance’s contribution that puts the production among all-time Shakespeare greats. Frankly unmissable." (The Daily Telegraph on Twelfth Night)

"...it is difficult to imagine that Twelfth Night could be performed more effectively than it currently is at the Globe theatre..." (The Guardian on Twelfth Night)

"This is a crowd-pleasing production...and the laughs come thick and fast" (The Evening Standard on The Taming of the Shrew)

"Matthew Tennyson's Puck is beguilingly fey, while Luke Thompson, as a Lysander beaming with childlike over-enthusiasm, makes a professional debut of some note in this warm, comic production...a warm, comic vision ideally pitched to this performance space. [Dominic Dromgoole's] production bursts with crowd-pleasing gestures..." (The Evening Standard on A Midsummer Night's Dream ★★★★)

This spectacular film of Don Quixote, choregraphed after Petipa and directed for the screen by Russian ballet superstar Rudolf Nureyev, is recognized as one of the finest ballet performances ever caught on camera and a cinematic triumph in its own right. Filmed in Melbourne with the Australian Ballet in 1973, the cast includes Nureyev as Basilio, Sir Robert Helpmann as the deluded knight and Lucette Aldous as Kitri. This timeless story of love, gallantry and misadventure – all unfolding with Minkus’s exhilarating Spanish flavored music – has stood the test of time as one of the world’s most popular ballets. Lovingly restored from the original 35mm film, and to be heard for the first time in full SS digital stereo created for the DVD and Blu-ray release, this is finally, how Nureyev intended his Don Quixote to be seen and heard.

This spectacular film of Don Quixote, choregraphed after Petipa and directed for the screen by Russian ballet superstar Rudolf Nureyev, is recognized as one of the finest ballet performances ever caught on camera and a cinematic triumph in its own right. Filmed in Melbourne with the Australian Ballet in 1973, the cast includes Nureyev as Basilio, Sir Robert Helpmann as the deluded knight and Lucette Aldous as Kitri. This timeless story of love, gallantry and misadventure – all unfolding with Minkus’s exhilarating Spanish flavored music – has stood the test of time as one of the world’s most popular ballets. Lovingly restored from the original 35mm film, and to be heard for the first time in full SS digital stereo created for the DVD and Blu-ray release, this is finally, how Nureyev intended his Don Quixote to be seen and heard.

David McVicar’s classic production embraces both the seriousness and comedy of Mozart’s work. The audience is transported to a fantastical world of dancing animals, flying machines and dazzlingly starry skies. The setting provides a wonderful backdrop for Mozart’s kaleidoscopic score, from the Queen of the Night’s coloratura fireworks to Tamino and Pamina’s lyrical love duets and Papageno’s hearty, folksong-like arias. Prince Tamino promises the Queen of the Night that he will rescue her daughter Pamina from the enchanter Sarastro. He begins his quest, accompanied by the bird-catcher Papageno – but all is not as it seems…

David McVicar’s classic production embraces both the seriousness and comedy of Mozart’s work. The audience is transported to a fantastical world of dancing animals, flying machines and dazzlingly starry skies. The setting provides a wonderful backdrop for Mozart’s kaleidoscopic score, from the Queen of the Night’s coloratura fireworks to Tamino and Pamina’s lyrical love duets and Papageno’s hearty, folksong-like arias. Prince Tamino promises the Queen of the Night that he will rescue her daughter Pamina from the enchanter Sarastro. He begins his quest, accompanied by the bird-catcher Papageno – but all is not as it seems…

This 18-opera collection displays the scope of The Royal Opera's work. From the sumptuous beauty of Richard Eyre's La traviata and the picturesque realism of John Copley's La bohème to the psychological intensity of David McVicar's Salome and Kasper Holten's Król Roger, the impressive collection spans more than two hundred years of great operatic works from the classical period to the present day. Featuring some of the company's most popular guest artists, including Renée Fleming, Jonas Kaufmann, Joseph Calleja and Diana Damrau, and conductors including The Royal Opera's Music Director Antonio Pappano, The Royal Opera Collection is a dazzling tour of operatic treasures by Mozart, Verdi, Bizet, Wagner, Mascagni, Leoncavallo, Puccini, Richard Strauss, Szymanowski, Britten and George Benjamin. This title is a re-packaging of The Royal Opera Collection (OA1244BD) at budget price, including the same content and booklet as the original release (which will be discontinued).