Publisher, Arkangel/Penguin Audio (December 2005)

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"One of the Bard's finest tragedies. This complex and moving account of a passionate love affair between a great general and the wily, capricious queen of Egypt explores the constant and eternal struggle between the private and the public, and the personal and the political. "The actors are excellent; it is no mere reading of the text." —AudioFile Magazine

"These strong Egyptian fetters I must break Or lose myself in dotage."

Mark Antony, one of the three rulers of the Roman World, has become the thrall of the fascinating Cleopatra. Affairs of state call him to Rome, but the attractions of the Queen of Egypt prove impossible to resist. From one of history's greatest love stories Shakespeare builds this magnificent tragedy of the clash between love and duty.

Performers:

Mark Antony - Ciaran Hinds
Cleopatra - Estelle Kohler
Domitius Enobarbus - David Burke
Octavius Caesar - Ian Hughes
Charmian - Eve Matheson
Iras - Emma Gregory
Lepidus - Trevor Martin
Pompey - Charles Simpson
Octavia - Tracy-Ann Oberman
Eros - John McAndrew
Philo - Steve Hodson
Soothsayer - Arthur Cox
Menecrates - Michael N. Harbour
Menas - Jonathan Tafler
Scarus - Mark Bonnar
Diomedes - Will Keen
Cleopatra's Messenger - Gary Bakewell
Alexas - Richard Durden
Mardian - Christopher Luscombe

Creative Director: Clive Brill graduated from Oxford University and then joined the BBC where he worked for 12 years as director, producer, and commissioning editor. In 1996, he left the BBC to develop and direct the Arkangel Shakespeare project. He directed all 38 plays, which star many of today's finest actors. He is a co-director of Pacificus Productions in London, which produces drama across all media.

The Arkangel Complete Shakespeare is one of the most ambitious undertakings in recent recording history. All thirty-eight of Shakespeare's plays, uncut, fully-dramatized and accompanied by original music, are brought to life by the voices of many of the most distinguished actors presently performing in British Film and Theatre.