Click summary to read full article
When the ageing King divides his kingdom between his three daughters, he is disturbed to find that his youngest is deficient in the gifts of flattery, and he angrily divides her inheritance between her two older sisters.
But now he finds himself exposed to their cruelty. Lear is humiliated, and his allies prove defenceless before the two daughters’ ruthless savagery. His divided kingdom is invaded by France, home of his distanced younger daughter.
The two older daughters, rivals for the affections of the villainous Edmund, destroy one another, while the youngest is hanged, seemingly breathing her last in Lear’s regretful arms.
The four young men agree to three years of self-restraint and scholarship – until they remember the forthcoming visit of the Princess of France and her companions.
Meanwhile, the wordy Armado is in love with Jaquenetta, despite her liaison with Costard and her evident indifference to his charms.
Biron falls for Rosaline, and his example is followed by each of his three friends – much to their embarrassment when their romantic projects are discovered.
But a pageant in the women’s honour is abandoned when news arrives of the French King’s death, necessitating the postponement for one year of the four budding romances.
When Norway invades Scotland, Macbeth’s bravery in battle saves King Duncan’s crown. Returning from the battlefield, Macbeth encounters three witches, who prophesy that one day the crown will be his.
Duncan meanwhile has promoted him, and arranged to stay at his castle. But Lady Macbeth, hearing the witches’ prophecy, resolves that Duncan must be killed.
Macbeth commits the murder and seizes the crown but does not find contentment. Further murders of former friends and their families isolate him further, as does his wife’s death. Angry, disillusioned and alone, Macbeth is finally defeated by armies loyal to Duncan’s son Malcolm.
Vincentio tells his deputy Angelo he’s going abroad, so he’s transferring his duties as Duke of Vienna. But in fact he’s going undercover, to reflect on how Vienna’s governed.
Vincentio believes the state has tough laws but doesn’t use them enough. Angelo agrees – and arrests Claudio for sex outside marriage: a capital offence.
Claudio’s sister Isabella begs Angelo to release her brother, and he agrees – if she will sleep with him. Vincentio suggests Mariana take her place.
When Vincentio reveals his disguise, Angelo accepts whatever punishment is coming. But he is forgiven and marries Mariana, while Vincentio proposes to Isabella.
Antonio lends Bassanio the money to pursue Portia – though he must borrow it himself. But he’ll soon repay, once his ships return.
Shylock won’t fraternise with him, but he’ll lend him the money, subject to his forfeit, the pound of flesh.
In Belmont, Portia’s suitors are confronted with a challenge – to choose between three locked caskets. Bassanio chooses right, and wins the prize, but Antonio’s ships have foundered and the pound of flesh is due.
Portia travels to Venice disguised as a lawyer and brilliantly wins the case, before returning to Belmont to reveal the secret of her trip.
Falstaff arrives in Windsor intent on romance, and two married ladies catch his eye. But neither is likely to prove susceptible to the charms of “the fat knight”.
Meanwhile the wealthy Anne Page is plagued with suitors. Her father prefers Slender, her mother Dr Caius, and Anne herself favours Fenton.
The two married ladies conspire to toy with Falstaff, first tipping him into the Thames, then lining up an unnerving midnight rendezvous in the forest.
When the moment comes, Falstaff is given the fright of his life, and Anne emerges to reveal to all that she means to marry Fenton.
Both Lysander and Demetrius want to marry Hermia. Demetrius is her father’s preference – though he has his own admirer in Helena.
Hermia prefers Lysander, however, and they elope to the forest – pursued by Demetrius … and Helena. When Oberon overhears Demetrius rudely rejecting Helena, he has Puck administer the love juice. But Puck messes up, and now Lysander loves Helena.
When Demetrius also falls for her, she’s totally confused. Puck playfully grafts a donkey’s head on a carpenter’s shoulders for Titania to fall in love, but once he’s sent back to repair the damage, Hermia can finally marry Lysander and Helena Demetrius.
Claudio and Benedick arrive in Messina, fresh from battle, and reconciled with former enemy Don John – they think. Now it’s time for Claudio to romance Hero, with Don Pedro’s assistance.
By contrast Benedick has sworn he’ll never marry – which Beatrice says light-heartedly is lucky for women. But privately Benedick likes Beatrice, and Beatrice likes Benedick.
Meanwhile Don John – who hates Claudio – plots to make Hero look unfaithful. Claudio is deceived, but keeps his revenge to himself until the wedding.
Then the bumbling police force expose the plot – and with John arrested, all four youngsters can marry happily after all.
The city state of Venice appoints the warrior Othello to defend their Mediterranean possession Cyprus from Turkish attack. But Othello’s choice of Cassio as his assistant enrages the ambitious Iago, who resolves to destroy him.
Accompanied by his young wife Desdemona, Othello sails for Cyprus, only to discover that a storm has shipwrecked the Turkish fleet.
Now Iago begins his campaign, first engineering Cassio’s sacking, then convincing Othello that Desdemona is in love with her husband’s former lieutenant.
Enraged, Othello confronts, then murders his young wife – before learning of her innocence and his own folly in trusting Iago.
