William Shakespeare

The Winter's Tale
- William Shakespeare
- Danny Sapani (Read by)
- Eve Best (Read by)
- Full Cast (Read by)
- Karl Johnson (Read by)
- Paul Copley (Read by)
- Shaun Dooley (Read by)
- Susan Jameson (Read by)
Eve Best, Danny Sapani and Shaun Dooley star in this modern, riveting and magical production of The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare

The Winter's Tale treads new dramatic ground embracing tragedy, poetry, folklore, magic realism, music, comedy and the infamous stage direction "exit pursued by a bear". One of Shakespeare's mesmerising later productions, often considered a 'problem play' as it starts with a tragedy and ends in a romance

The story starts with the consuming jealousy of King Leontes of Sicilia towards his wife Hermione and his childhood friend King Polixenes of Bohemia. Believing they are lovers and the child she is carrying is illegitimate, Leontes begins a destructive path: the breaking of his marriage and the abandonment of his child

What seems hopeless, tragic and irreconcilable changes in Act 2 where jealousy and actions arouse a passionate sense of honour, love, justice and self-sacrifice in members of his court and family. The baby, Perdita, is raised by a shepherd, unaware of her royal heritage. It seems she will never discover the truth of her birth, but when Prince Florizel sees her and falls in love, it seems fate has other ideas....

This production brings together a star cast and includes an original folk music score by award-winning musicians Lisa Knapp and Tim Van Eyken

Production Credits

Written by William Shakespeare
Music composed by Tim Van Eyken and singer Lisa Knapp
Director: David Hunter
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4 on the 1st May 2016 as part of The Shakespeare Sessions series

Cast List
Leontes ... Danny Sapani
Hermione ... Eve Best
Polixenes ... Shaun Dooley
Camillo... Karl Johnson
Paulina... Susan Jameson
Shepherd... Paul Copley
Perdita... Faye Castelow
Autolycus... Tim Van Eyken
Florizel... Will Howard
Mamillius... Charlie Brand
Archidamus...Sean Baker
Antigonus... Brian Protheroe
Clown...Sam Rix
Emilia...Scarlett Brookes
Cleomenes...Richard Pepple
Dion...Nick Underwood
First Lady...Adie Allen
Mopsa...Nicola Ferguson
First Lord.. James Lailey
Mariner...Sargon Yelda
Officer...Ewan Bailey

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William Shakespeare was born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He wrote about 38 plays (the precise number is uncertain), many of which are regarded as the most exceptional works of drama ever produced, including Romeo and Juliet (1595), Henry V (1599), Hamlet (1601), Othello (1604), King Lear (1606) and Macbeth (1606), as well as a collection of 154 sonnets, which number among the most profound and influential love poetry in English. Shakespeare died in Stratford in 1616.

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William Shakespeare

The Winter's Tale