W. F. Howes Ltd

Racism, sexism, ageism, murder, and the greatest villain in world literature. The tension of Othello will leave you speechless, while the true story of the Moors' experienceof early 17th century London, will make you see England and Shakespeare in a new light. Arguably the greatest of Shakespeare’s tragedies, Othello is a nail-biting tour-de-force which has shocked audiences for four centuries. The guided commentary illustrates how Shakespeare’s writing is still relevant today, as it draws parallels with the religious and political tensions of the modern world.

How did Guy Fawkes and his attempt to blow up Parliament lead to the writing of Macbeth? How did the King's trials and executions of witches influence the writing of 'The Scottish Play'? Could this masterpiece really havebeen written in only ten days? Our guided productionof Macbeth brings alive Shakespeare's monumentaltragedy of supernatural omens, murders and ghoststhrough powerful performance and insightfulcommentary and answers all these questions, andmore...

Shakespeare's greatest history play is alive today, because the subject of war is as relevant in the modern world as it was during the time of King Henry V. With religious and political intrigue and plotting, Henry V is possibly the greatest artistic comment ever created about war. This powerful full-cast performance is accompanied by a guided commentary which highlights the historical and social perspective of the play, while looking at the morals and ethics of war.

Discover not only the timeless beauty of Shakespeare's first tragic masterpiece, but uncover his own story of love and loss as we delve into the worlds of Romeo and Juliet, and the man behind the story. Journey back to the London of 1591, gripped by plague, and experience the society in which William Shakespeare lived and wrote. This full-cast unabridged production will leave you spell-bound, and the guided commentary will make everything clear...

Twelfth Night, the original black comedy, is presented as full-cast drama with a guided commentary which illuminates Shakespeare's world. In a period of personal mourning, we shed light on how he created a topsyturvy world of comic sadness and melancholy humour. With the background in place and the finer points of the language explained, Shakespeare's vision is fully realised so his comedy can be whole-heartedly enjoyed. If you’ve ever wondered how four-hundredyear-old jokes can be funny, just listen!

Too dark, too cruel, too violent. Experience Shakespeare’s original King Lear, powerfully performed with insightful commentary, and judge for yourself whether his kingdom, and passing the reins of power to the next generation, Shakespeare shows us a world on the brink. As wisdom and age are replaced by ambition and youth, we see the former king in free-fall, dropping through the social order, estranged from his family, fighting to retain his identity and sanity.