Othello

Othello, the Moor and Commander of the Venetian army, promotes Cassio to Lieutenant, enraging Iago who plots revenge. Iago has Cassio dismissed and then pretends to help him by asking Othello’s new wife, Desdemona, to plead Cassio’s case with Othello. Meanwhile Iago poisons Othello’s mind against Desdemona, convincing him she has been unfaithful with Cassio. Iago’s wife Emilia steals Desdemona’s handkerchief and Iago drops it in Cassio’s quarters. Seeing Cassio with the handkerchief is final proof for Othello and overcome by jealousy he smothers her with a pillow. Upon finding Desdemona, Emilia admits the truth. Iago, furious with her for confessing, stabs his wife and is arrested. Unable to live with his tragic mistake, Othello takes his own life.

The Tempest

Prospero has been overthrown as Duke of Milan by a conspiracy between his brother Antonio and Alonso King of Naples, and left to the mercy of the sea with his daughter Miranda and his magical books. On a remote island, Prospero becomes a mighty sorcerer, commanding the island’s spirit Ariel and enslaving Caliban, son of the island’s former ruler. With his enemies’ ship nearby, Prospero creates a storm which strands them on the island. Ariel leads Ferdinand, Alonso’s son, to Prospero’s cell where he falls in love with Miranda. Meanwhile, plots are afoot: Antonio tries to convince Alonso’s brother, Sebastian, to kill Alonso and take his place as King, while Caliban schemes with Stephano and Trinculo to kill Prospero and take over the island. Ariel foils both plots and Prospero uses his powers to torment the conspirators. Confronted by Prospero, Alonso apologises and is reunited with his son Ferdinand who is to marry Miranda. Antonio will not apologise, but Prospero forgives him and prepares for home, renouncing his magical powers and asking one last thing from his faithful servant Ariel - calm seas for the journey home.

Macbeth

Returning victorious from battle, Macbeth and Banquo are met by three witches who tell Macbeth he will be Thane of Cawdor and then King, and Banquo will father kings. After King Duncan gives him Cawdor’s title, Macbeth is spurred on to murder. During Duncan’s visit, Macbeth stabs him in his sleep and Lady Macbeth plants the dagger on the guards. The King’s sons flee and Macbeth is crowned King. When Banquo is suspicious Macbeth becomes fearful of the prophecy and attempts to have him and his son, Fleance, killed. Fleance escapes and Macbeth revisits the witches who tell him to fear “no man born of woman”. Believing he cannot be killed, Macbeth is preparing for Malcolm’s invasion when he learns of his wife’s death, the stress of their bloody deed having driven her mad. The battle begins. No man can defeat Macbeth until he meets Macduff, a man “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb. Macduff kills Macbeth and Malcolm is crowned King.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Lysander and Hermia are in love but her father wants her to marry Demetrius, and gives them four days to decide their fate. The lovers flee into the forest. Helena is in love with Demetrius so tells him of their flight to win favour. Both follow Lysander and Hermia into the forest, where Oberon and Titania, King and Queen of the Fairies are feuding over a changeling boy. Enraged, Oberon wishes to punish Titania and streaks her eyes with a love potion as she sleeps. Seeing the predicament of the lovers Oberon then orders his servant Puck to use the love potion on Demetrius so he will fall in love with Helena. Puck mistakenly anoints Lysander’s and Demetrius’ eyes and both fall in love with Helena. Meanwhile, Titania has awoken and fallen in love with a workman named Bottom whom Puck has mischievously given an ass’s head. Finally Oberon decides he has had enough fun. The lovers are anointed again and reunited and Demetrius and Helena are now firmly in love. The four return to Athens to celebrate the Duke’s marriage and their own unions. Oberon returns Titania to her former state and the pair are reunited.

Julius Caesar

The great military leader Julius Caesar returns to Rome a hero after defeating the Gauls and Pompey’s army. Seeing public reaction, the senators fear Caesar may try to become King and destroy the Republic. They plot to kill Caesar, persuading Marcus Brutus to join them. Although Brutus is torn between loyalty to the Republic and his friendship with Caesar, he agrees to the plan, but refuses to kill Mark Antony. Caesar, against advice, visits the senate where he is stabbed by Brutus, Cassius and the rest. Mark Antony mourns his death but pretends to support the plotters. At Caesar’s funeral, Brutus conducts a speech explaining Caesar’s death, while Antony stirs the crowd to revenge. Antony plots with Caesar’s nephew to take Rome, but Brutus and Cassius raise an army to stop them. In the final battle, Brutus and Cassius kill themselves before they can be captured.

Romeo & Juliet

The Capulets and the Montagues of Verona are arch enemies. At the Capulet ball, Romeo Montague falls in love with Juliet, Capulet’s daughter, and they are quickly married. Soon after, Romeo fights Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, kills him and is forced to flee. Devastated, Juliet discovers her father plans to marry her to another. To help her escape, Friar Laurence gives Juliet a potion to make her seem dead for 48 hours, and sends word to Romeo of the plan. But the message does not reach Romeo, who hears only of Juliet’s death. He returns to buy a vial of poison and die beside her. As Romeo dies, Juliet awakes and with no poison remaining, stabs herself with Romeo’s dagger. The Capulets and Montagues are finally reunited by their grief.

King Lear

Lear, King of Britain, decides to relinquish his crown and divide his kingdom amongst his three daughters. When the youngest, Cordelia, fails to declare her love publicly, he condemns her to marry the King of France without a dowry; and her sisters Goneril and Regan and their husbands, Albany and Cornwall, inherit the kingdom. Edmund, the Earl of Gloucester’s illegitimate son, deceives his father into believing that his legitimate son, Edgar, plots against him. Edgar is disinherited and flees Gloucester’s fury. When Goneril and Regan treat Lear with contempt, he strides out into the storm followed by his Fool, and the loyal Kent, where they encounter Edgar pretending to be a mad beggar. Gloucester attempts to help Lear to Dover where Cordelia has landed with an army to restore Lear to the throne. But Gloucester is betrayed by Edmund to Cornwall and Regan who cuts out his eyes. Blind Gloucester is guided to Dover by his banished son Edgar who disguises his voice. Lear and Cordelia are reconciled but captured by the sisters and sentenced to death by Edmund. Edmund is challenged and fatally wounded by a disguised Edgar. Goneril and Regan, both in love with Edmund, end their lives. Lear emerges with the hanged Cordelia and dies of grief.