Speak the Speech, I Pray You

If you’re a Shakespeare fan, and you’ve got an MP3 player, then run don’t walk to Speak the Speech, who are doing free, downloadable audio performances of Shakespeare’s plays. Right now they’ve got The Tempest (woohoo!), Twelfth Night, As You Like It, and Henry IV Part 1. The next shows will be Julius Caesar and Pericles, Prince of Tyre. Eh? What crazy order are they going in?? Seriously. Free audio performances of Shakespeare are actually few and far between. Lots of places will do the sonnets, or assorted soliloquoys, but if you really want an entire play in MP3 format you used to have to go find yourself a copy of Arkangel or something, and that runs well into the hundreds of dollars. I’ve just started in on the Tempest. I like it. It’s a performance, not just a reading, so you’ve got background music and sound effects. It’s a little like old time radio drama. While you’re at it, don’t forget about Shakespearecast, who are going through a production of Romeo and Juliet. Right now they’re on Act III Scene 4. Unlike Speak the Speech, which offers up the full play at once, ShakespeareCast is doing it podcast style where you download portions are they become available. Your choice!