The Hollow Crown and titles from BBC Drama Films and Documentaries to join the platform

Drama Online (www.dramaonlinelibrary.com will significantly expand its current video offering from the autumn, with more award-winning film content.

The Hollow Crown Series starring Ben Whishaw, Jeremy Irons and Tom Hiddleston, brings together four filmed adaptations of Shakespeare's history plays - Richard II, Henry IV parts 1 and 2 and Henry V. Starting in the year 1399, the story follows events during sixteen years of dynastic and political power play. Kings, with their families and followers, are threatened by rebellion and conflict, from the Royal Court at Westminster to battlefields in England and France.

The series attracted great critical acclaim, with Ben Whishaw and Simon Russell Beale winning British Academy Television Awards for Leading Actor and Supporting Actor respectively. Jeremy Irons was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor for his role as Henry IV, and Richard II was nominated for the Best Single Drama at the BAFTAs.

The Hollow Crown Series: The Wars of the Roses - Henry VI in two parts, along with Richard III tells the story of an exceptionally turbulent period in British history that acutely resonates with the political events of today. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugh Bonneville, Judi Dench, Michael Gambon, Sally Hawkins, Sophie Okonedo & Tom Sturridge, these exhilarating and emotionally charged films feature some of Shakespeare’s most eloquent and powerful language.

“The Hollow Crown is an invaluable teaching and research resource. These series constitute one of the most well-funded, intellectually rich and creatively successful Shakespeare film projects of recent times. Directed by some of our leading Shakespearean artists, and featuring an extraordinary cast, the films present the history plays in a form that is recognisable, intuitive and enjoyable for students” – Dr. Peter Kirwan, Assistant Professor in Shakespeare and Early Modern Drama, University of Nottingham, UK

The Hollow Crown is available as an online education collection exclusively through Drama Online.

View the trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn8NHUt5ZH8] »

BBC Drama Films and Documentaries

This collection features stunning film adaptations of classic and contemporary plays from Sophocles and Shakespeare, to Oscar Wilde, Henrik Ibsen, August Strindberg, Bernard Shaw and contemporary writers, Michael Frayn and Joe Penhall. The collection also includes documentaries on Shakespeare and Samuel Beckett, as well as an interview with Arthur Miller.

Content highlights include:

- William Shakespeare’s Hamlet starring David Tennant and Patrick Stewart – a specially shot film, which remains faithful to the RSC’s original stage play. Tennant's interpretation of Hamlet was recognised as defining the role for a generation, and Patrick Stewart, playing Claudius, as a performance of great depth and complexity (for which the actor won a highly-coveted 2009 Olivier award). Director Gregory Doran’s modern-dress production was seen as a brilliant ensemble presentation that was thrilling, fast-moving, immediately accessible, and supremely intelligent.

- William Shakespeare’s, King Lear.  Ian Holm stars in the title role of this award-winning film version of Richard Eyre’s National Theatre production.

- Henrik Ibsen’s, A Doll’s House, starring Juliet Stevenson, Trevor Eve, Geraldine James, Patrick Malahide and David Calder. “This new, pointedly ideological translation by Joan Tinsdale is both sharp and felicitous…Ibsen is served brilliantly” - New York Times
  
- Michael Frayn’s, Copenhagen. A stylish screen adaptation of the award-winning play starring Stephen Rea, Daniel Craig and Francesca Annis.

- J.B Priestley’s, An Inspector Calls. An emotionally powerful and sharply relevant new adaptation of J.B Priestley’s timeless masterpiece. A scathing critique of hypocritical, class-obsessed society, starring David Thewlis, Ken Stott and Miranda Richardson.

- Joe Penhall’s, Blue/Orange. An incendiary tale of race, madness and struggle for power. This adaptation of Joe Penhall’s award-winning play retains the music, lighting and sound team from the original stage production, which premiered in 2000.

Documentary highlights:

- Shakespeare Uncovered. Leading actors including Morgan Freeman, Kim Cattrall, Joseph Fiennes, Hugh Bonneville and more, each present an episode on a key Shakespeare play, bringing their own unique interpretation to the themes, roles, historical settings and timeless relevance of Shakespeare’s work.

- Arthur Miller. Omnibus talks to playwright Arthur Miller about the political and poetic nature of his plays, being a writer in the US, and his marriage to Marilyn Monroe.
 
- Samuel Beckett – As the Story Was Told. This definitive portrait gives a unique insight into the private world of Samuel Beckett. Filmed with the full co-operation of his closest relatives, friends and distinguished artistic collaborators, this film is a testament to one of the twentieth century's most famous and original writers.

The new collections will be available for trial in September this year. Register your interest with your local sales team member:

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