Shakespeare
Sonnet No 29: When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes
Read by Elizabeth Hawthorne Music details- Dowland: Fancy (Glossa GCD 920 109) Audio
Sonnet No 28: How can I then return in happy plight
Read by Geraldine Brophy (RNZ) Music details - Anthony Holborne: The Countess of Pembroke's Funeral (Virgin VC 7 91216) Audio
Sonnet No 27: Weary with toil, I haste to my bed
Read by Warwick Broadhead (RNZ) Music details - Hume: The Second part (AliaVox AV 9837) Audio
Sonnet No 26: Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage
Read by Eva Radich (RNZ) Music details-J Johnson: Goodnight (Naxos 8.550776) Audio
Phebe from ‘As You Like It’ by Sophie Hambleton
Phebe's Monologue from Act III, Scene V of 'As You Like It'. Performed by Sophie Hambleton. Audio
Sonnet No 25: Let those who are in favour with their stars
Read by Tainui Tukiwaho (RNZ) Music details- J Johnson: Johnson's Jewel (Naxos 8.550776) Audio
Sonnet No 24: Mine eye hath played the painter
Read by Frank Whitten Music details-Dowland: Dr Case's Pavan (Glossa GCD 920 109) Audio
Sonnet No 20: A woman's face with nature's own hand
This poem has been the subject of much debate as to the nature of the love the poet expresses for the "Fair Youth", the figure to whom the first 126 sonnets are dedicated. Read by Stuart Devenie. Audio
Sonnet No 17: Who will believe my verse in time to come
That's the last of the "procreation sonnets", the seventeenth in the set, in which Shakespeare exhorted "the fair youth" to leave an heir. From here, the sonnets start to take a romantic hue - you'll… Audio
Sonnet No 16: But wherefore do not you a mightier way
Read by Jennifer Ward-Lealand Audio
Sonnet No 13: O that you were yourself, but love you are
Read by Elizabeth McRae. Music details: Dowland: Gagliarda (Glossa GCD 920 109) Audio
Sonnet No 12: When I do count the clock that tells the time
Read by Hewitt Humphrey. Music details: J Johnson: La Vecchia Pavan (Naxos 8.550776) Audio
Imogen from 'Cymbeline' by Rachel Harrison
Imogen's Monologue from Act III, Scene VI of 'Cymbeline'. Performed by Rachel Harrison. Audio
Viola from ‘Twelfth Night’ by Nikki MacDonnell
Viola's Monologue from Act II, Scene II of 'Twelfth Night'. Performed by Nikki MacDonnell. Audio