Although it may seem radical even to attempt a silent version of a Shakespeare play, such films were frequently made throughout the 1910s. This adaptation of King Lear had the advantage of starring Frederick Warde, who was renowned for his many stage performances as Lear. Warde is seen in rare form here as he inhabits the character with particularly expressive physicality. This cinematic classic from 1916 has been lovingly restored and features an...

An aromatic stew of biography and local color, this program will give viewers a sense of the London and Stratford of Shakespeare's time. The section on London visits 18 major sites associated with the Bard and his plays, including the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Middle Temple for law students, George Tavern, Southwark Cathedral, and the Globe Theatre site. The section on Stratford conjures up the presence of young Will through a journey...

In celebration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, this program unlocks some of the mysteries surrounding Shakespeare's life and the legacy of his work across the globe. John Nettles takes us on a journey through the dangerous and dynamic times of Shakespeare's life and reveals something of the real man who transformed the London theatre and the English language, yet remained a Stratford man.

The Shakespeare Authorship question - the question of who wrote Shakespeare's plays and who the man we know as Shakespeare was - is a subject which fascinates millions of people the world over and can be seen as a major cultural phenomenon. However, much discussion of the question exists on the very margins of academia, deemed by most Shakespearean academics as unimportant or, indeed, of interest only to conspiracy theorists. Yet, many academics find...

A journey into Hamlet the play and the man, through the experiences of the major actors and directors who have brought the play to life. Filmed at the Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-Upon-Avon, in London, Canada and Italy, featuring Christopher Plummer, Sir Trevor Nunn, Franco Zeffirelli, John Nettles, John Simm and David Tennant.