The Shakespeare Universe

Episodes combine history, biography, iconic performances, new analysis, and the personal passion of hosts to tell the story behind the stories of Shakespeare's greatest plays.

It's the greatest literary mystery of all time: Who wrote the works of William Shakespeare? Although the official story of a Stratford merchant writing for the London box office has held sway for centuries, questions over the authorship of the plays and poems persists.

John Barton holds a master class in how to play Shakespeare, using members of the RSC doing scenes, sonnets, and commentary as prime examples.

Shakespeare: Comedies, Histories, Tragedies introduces you to Shakespeare's plays and explains the achievement that makes Shakespeare the leading playwright in Western civilization.