Shakespeare: Three Tragedies (UK-import)
Collection of three tragedies by William Shakespeare, performed live by the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 'Hamlet' (2016), the self-assured eponymous character (Paapa Essiedu)'s world is turned upside down when news reaches him that his father, the King of Denmark, has died whilst he is studying abroad in Germany. Hamlet returns home to find everything in chaos. It's not long before Hamlet's mother Gertrude (Tanya Moodie) has announced her intention to his uncle Claudius (Clarence Smith), elevating him to the throne. When the ghost of Hamlet's father appears to him and claims Claudius was responsible for his death, Hamlet is spurred to seek revenge. In 'King Lear' (2016), Antony Sher stars as the titular monarch looking to live out his days without the burden of power by proposing to divide his vast kingdom among his three daughters. Allowing vanity to cloud his judgement, he challenges them to prove which one loves him the most, declaring that the winner will receive the largest share. A twisted conspiracy of greed and cruelty follows, leaving the once great dynasty in ruins and Lear banished to the wilderness, left to question the errors of his ways. Finally, 'Othello' (2015) stars Hugh Quarshie as the eponymous Venetian army general in the classic tale of lust, deception and revenge. Warrior Othello returns victorious to Venice and secretly weds Desdemona (Joanna Vanderham), daughter of a senator. Meanwhile Iago (Lucian Msamati), one of Othello's lieutenents, is passed over for promotion, and decides to exact his revenge by weaving a web of deceit, playing on Othello's jealous nature.