A veritable epic from chief luvvie Ken. Four hours of full on tragedy, with the cream of British thespians alongside a plethora of international cameos. The action is shifted to the 19th Century, but is otherwise faithful and unabridged with magnificent sets and costumes. find out more...

A contemporary adaption of William Shakespeare's Hamlet........well that should do it really, but just in case.; Spoilt, slightly unhinged lad, starved of real parental love, father murdered, mum marries prime suspect, boy becomes even more loopy, but method in his madness, determined to find the truth and reek revenge, falls in love with forbidden fruit, tragedy lurking patiently in the wings. This modern adaption of Hamlet is following on from the recent updating of Romeo and Juliet and though find out more...

Franco Zeffirelli has made cinematic adaptations of Shakespeare's work something of a speciality, and this energetic, earthy, Anglo-Saxon set version lives up to his reputation. He brings out the very best from Mel Gibson, who brings real gusto to Hamlet's anguish, and makes this full-blooded translation roar vividly with life. Glenn Close, as his mother, and Helena Bonham Carter, as Ophelia, both lend excellent support, as do the rest of the star-studded cast. Excellent and should please both s find out more...

This remains one of the greatest screen versions of the tortured play, though it does look rather over-played by modern standards. The late Olivier gives one of his greatest performances - indeed this is the performance that first ranked him amongst the very greatest of actors. Won Best Picture at 1948 Academy Awards. find out more...

Filmed entirely in the Round House, where he had previously staged the play, Richardson concentrates almost exclusively on faces! Faces lower obsessively from the screen, surrounded by mysterious pools of darkness in which figures stealthily appear and disappear. The reason may be economy, but the result is an emphasis on the words and their meaning. Nicol Williamson's Hamlet intelligent, mocking and volcanically explosive, is neatly disciplined by this approach, it's interesting and imaginative find out more...

This powerful production of the Bard's epic focuses on historical pageantry, family conflict and bawdy living, as fun loving Prince Hal struggles to make the transition from heir apparent to responsible prince, though Anthony Quayle's Falstaff steals the show. Another fine BBC production. find out more...

Often considered to be one of Shakespeare's finest ever plays, it picks up where Henry IV, Part 1 left off. Yet another first class BBC production. find out more...

Not the Kenneth Branagh version nor Olivier's but one that compares reasonably neverthess - and a more faithful rendering at that! Probably the most useful for the purposes of study. find out more...

Video of the ESC stage play. Henry VI pt II. Richard of York begins his bid for the crown, Henry VI and Margaret fight back under the banner of Lancaster. York is killed but his sons capture both Henry and Edward (heir to 2 thrones). Eventually both Henry and Edward are killed, and Margaret is banished. find out more...

One of the BBC's typically exemplary adaptation of one of the great Bard's works performed by pretty much the cream of British theatre. It is the first in the cycle of four plays often referred to as "The Wars of the Roses". find out more...