Advantages: Easy to read and understand
Disadvantages: It's not Shakespeare!

...and Cleopatra Macbeth Twelfth Night The Tempest * The Books * All of the soft back books are of a very similar format, amazingly all exactly 63 pages long. They are retold by Andrew Matthews and illustrated by Tony Ross, who also illustrates the Horrid Henry books. The books are, in fact so similar (apart from the stories themselves) that I have written about them collectively. Each book starts with a contents page, and then each has a cast list. The cast list is extremely helpful for understanding the story. The characters are illustrated and relationships between them are described underneath. Also on the cast list page is The Scene, where there is a brief description of where the individual stories are set. There is then a quote from the original Shakespeare book, referenced to the character who is saying it. Each book then moves onto... Read review

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Advantages: Great sound, great acting, great film.
Disadvantages: None to detract from the whole film.

...in well with the other props. Gang members dress as such but they are dressed as to their status. Tibalt "Prince of Cats" definitely had the coolest look. This all weaves together to make a good all round film that is hard to fault. A question I asked myself was "Would it live up to Shakespeare's expectations?". My answer is "yes" but I'm hardly qualified to give an answer as I've never read the play. The intention was obviously not to make a film of the play but a modern adaptation that said loyal to the script and perhaps introduce people to the prose who have shied away from it before (me). If this is the case then they have succeeded. Its fairly cheap at the moment and makes an great addition to anyone’s collection. Its not your average DVD release and makes a pleasant change to the majority of my collection. As you might... Read review

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Advantages: diversified entertainment, boat trips, kids and disabledfriendly
Disadvantages: expensive shops

...), the Shakespeare centre library holding a collection of his life, works and we can’t forget some original editions of his plays, the Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare and his wife are buried. Then you can also enjoyed Stratford Brass rubbing Centre (free entry), the Teddy Bear museum which is very unusual: you will find lots of unique and valuable Teddies, the Butterfly Farm showing to the public various worldwide species and you also have gift shops, play areas. Of course there are many other places to go to but we were short in time but if you have the opportunity to stay few days, you are guarantee a relaxing and enjoyable time off.... Read review

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Advantages: A good thriller, plot twists, interesting facts dotted throughout
Disadvantages: Plot holes, not an easy read, lack of character development

...the story itself was quite good - the idea of there being a hidden Shakespearean play and trying to find a lost First Folio (collection of plays and poetry). It is obviously a thriller and does hurtle along at quite a pace which makes you want to keep reading, as a good thriller should. But I did find that there were some unfathomable plot twists which were just so ridiculous, and parts which just didn't make sense, but I think you just have to gloss over these and pick up the story as best you can. There are no major bad flaws, but the odd one which crops up does make you go 'huh?'! A point about this book I have read across the Internet about this book is the question of whether you need a good knowledge of Shakespeare to properly understand and enjoy the book. The answer would be no because the author does explain a fair bit for us... Read review

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Advantages: Dishy yummy gorgeous
Disadvantages: Pffft dating a woman twice his age

...I adore Ralph Fiennes (pronounced Rafe) and Im not the only one, enter Ralph Fiennes into the google search engine and 80,400 websites appear listed dedicated to the man who has fallen from heaven. I guess my obsession started when I saw Schindlers List, a terrifying film about the Holocost. Ralph Fiennes played a german officer Amon Goethe and to be honest even though his character was as evil as could be I still found Ralph Fiennes rather attractive in the leather coat. Ralph Fiennes was born in Suffolk to Jini Fiennes aka Jennifer Lash, a novelist who sadly died in 1993 from breast cancer, his dad Mark Fiennes is a farmer and a photographer. He has six siblings four of which have taken a career in the arts, his more well known sibling is Joseph Fiennes star of Shakespeare in Love, the role is rumoured to have been offered to Ralph... Read review

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Advantages: Written by Shakespeare of course!
Disadvantages: some characters are not plausible, Othello looses tragic hero status

...As I am studying Othello for A Level I believe that I can boast an adequate understanding of the play. Written by Shakespeare it is one of the 4 great tragedies and in my opinion, the most exciting and suspense filled. The source comes from a collection of 112 short stories called the Cinthio Gli Hecatommithi written by Cinthio, an Italian writer in the 16th century. Twice as long as Macbeth, Othello boasts a complex but compelling plot and an admirable stretch of different characters. The synopsis is basically thus: Othello is a black African moor and weds Desdemona in secret; a girl of high birth and status in Venice. Iago, who it is argued is the protagonist of the play, is Othello's third in command and hates his officer. The apparent reasons for this are because Othello chose one Michael Cassio over Iago for lieutenancy... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful.Lovely buildings.Culture.Theatre
Disadvantages: Touristy.Gets crowded.Pricey

.... The building now houses a good collection of 16th and 17th century paintings and furniture. Old Town leads into Chestnut Walk and from there you could detour across country to Anne Hathaway's cottage, a mile and a half away at Shottery. This building, made famous on chocolate boxes and tea towels, is very picturesque, but the term cottage is misleading since it is a substantial twelve - roomed Elizabethan farm house. This thatched house is now owned by the National Trust and is open weekdays from 9 am and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer and 4.30 p.m. in winter. Anne was Shakespeare's wife and the cottage was her home before their marriage. Alternatively you could stroll down Church Street past the Windmill Inn which claims the title of the oldest licensed pub in town.. It was certainly in existence when Shakespeare was writing... Read review

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Advantages: Great help with understanding almost everything
Disadvantages: the "activites" at the end of each act

...Like all students I had to learn Shakespeare ... boring, difficult and hard to understand, well untill I purchased the Heinemann Shakespeare book Romeo and Juliet. The Heinemann Shakespeare series is designed specially for 11 to 16-year-old students and because it is designed specially for 11 to 16-year-old students it has lots of help to understand difficult words and phrases. Like all books designed for kids illustrations are important and this book has very good illustrations to help you follow the story. The best example of this is at the start where the illustrator has drawn all the characters of the play. I think this book it a must have for ALL students that are studying Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.... Read review

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Advantages: Interesting, bloody exciting
Disadvantages: a bit dry and hard going

...This is a great play, and the third in the Henry the VI trilogy, it is facinating, and bloody though perhaps not as accessible as some of Shakespeare's other plays. It tells the story of King Henry and his battles, especially with Richard, who has been portrayed as a vile, mad character. This is Shakespeare's version of the battles between the monarchs and lords of the time As with most of Shakespeare's plays, there is dramatic license, especially with timelines and characters, but tehy are after all fiction. There are battles, treason, treachery, intrique and murder, everything a good play needs. It is not Shakespeare's best play, not by a long way, but should surely be essential reading for all fans of his work or for students and those study the great bard.... Read review

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Advantages: you get two great movies
Disadvantages: In My books none

...Shakespeare In Love/ Pride and Prejudice Two disc (DVD) Having read and fallen in love with both Shakespeare In Love and Pride and Prejudice i was afraid to buy this DVD. Have you ever found that after enjoying reading a book you found that the Film just didn’t live up to the book? i have, so i didn’t want to be disappointed after watching the Film of both these books so i didn’t buy the DVD. My partner knew how much i loved the book so last Christmas on our five year anniversary he had bought me a collection of stuff i liked to show me that five years in he still loved me, within this collection i found both these movies and that evening we both sat through them and i was not disappointed. Both films lived up to my expectations, it was romantic, charming with a hint of comedy the perfect recipe for any of my movies. What is Pride... Read review

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