In their introduction to this play, the editors show how the young Shakespeare, working closely from his chronicle sources, nevertheless freely shaped his complex material to make it both theatrically effective and poetically innovative.

"King Henry VIII" has one of the fullest theatrical histories of any play in the Shakespeare canon, yet has been consistently misrepresented, both in performance and in criticism. This edition offers a fresh perspective on this ironic, multi-layered, collaborative play.

From the Royal Shakespeare Company - a modern, definitive edition of Shakespeare's most unusual and provocative histories.

Includes material to help reader understand and enjoy Shakespeare on the stage as well as on the page. This book features scene-by-scene summary, offering an easily understandable way into the play.

In this edition, R.A. Foakes brings to bear a number of historical perspectives and critically addresses recent explorations of "King Lear" as a play of redemption, a play of despair and a play that destabilises all commentary.

An ageing king makes a capricious decision to divide his realm among his three daughters according to the love they express for him. When the youngest daughter refuses to take part in this charade, she is banished, leaving the king dependent on her manipulative and untrustworthy sisters.

An introductory guide to King Lear in performance offering a scene-by-scene theatrically aware commentary, contextual documents, a brief history of the text and first performances, case studies of key productions, a survey of film and TV adaptations, a sampling of critical opinion and annotated further reading.

A study aid, which explores and dissects the play's themes, issues, motifs and

A book on the experience of reading Shakespeare's 'dark plays' which 'often begin with lives falling apart: an event-shipwreck, exile, doubt, or unexpected love-derails what had seemed secure. Those who participate in the plays, as players, audience members, or readers, are invited to see in those events the vulnerability of their own lives.

This annotated edition of "King Richard II" takes a fresh look at the first part of Shakespeare's second tetralogy of history plays, showing how it relates to the other plays in the sequence.

Written for pupils working towards the Key Stage 3 National Tests, this title gives an overview of the main characters and themes of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night". It has an illustrative style, gives examiner's tips, key notes to learn and explore, self-test quizzes and example questions.

From the Royal Shakespeare Company - a modern, definitive edition of Shakespeare's dazzling comedy.

From the Royal Shakespeare Company - a modern, definitive edition of Shakespeare's great drama of ambition, desire and guilt.

An edition of one of the most popular Shakespeare plays, including an introductory section on performances and adaptations.

This introductory guide to one of Marlowe's most widely-studied plays offers a scene-by-scene theatrically aware commentary, a brief history of the text and first performances, case studies of key performances and productions, a survey of screen adaptations, and a wide sampling of critical opinion and further reading.

This new edition of Shakespeare's dark comedy of sexual desire and hypocrisy, developed by and for the RSC, includes new interviews with one leading director and two actors (Trevor Nunn, Roger Allam, and Josette Simon), looks at specific productions in the play's history, and a completely new introduction by acclaimed scholar Jonathan Bate.

Measure for Measure generates much debate and is strikingly modern. This introductory guide offers a scene-by-scene theatrically aware commentary, a brief history of the text and first performance, studies of influential performances, a survey of film and TV adaptation, a wide sampling of critical opinion and annotated further reading.