Top 10 Theatrical Audio books

The most famous of Shakespeare’s plays has been interpreted countless times over the years. Set against the backdrop of Verona, Romeo and Juliet fall in love at the Capulet’s masked ball, confessing their love for each other. However, the feud between their two families, the Montagues and the Capulets, makes their relationship impossible. We see the young lovers marry in secret as we follow their doomed relationship until its tragic end.

This ancient Greek epic poem is set during the Trojan War, telling the story of the battle and events between King Agamemnon and Achilles. The son of the King of Troy, Prince Paris, falls in love with the wife of the King of Sparta, Helena, which then sparks a war. The young lovers travel to Troy secretly, which infuriates Helena’s husband and causes his brother to launch an attack against Troy. Throughout the bloody fight between men and gods, we see the reality of war and the effects it has on everyday life.

Gaston Leroux’s novel, Phantom of the Opera, went on to become one of the most successful West End shows for Andrew Lloyd Webber, and is still Broadway’s longest running musical. The book tells the story of Christine, a Paris Opera House singer, and Erik, who is hiding a very dark secret. He is known as the Voice and guides Christine to success at the Opera. But when Christine’s childhood sweetheart Raoul turns up, she has a choice to make. Will she opt for her childhood sweetheart or the masked phantom of the opera?

Faust is considered to be one of the greatest works of German literature. Part 1 is split into scenes, beginning with a prologue in heaven where the Lord bets against Mephistopheles (the devil) being able to lead the scholar Dr. Faust astray. Mephistopheles gives Faust a deal to sign his soul away in return for all the knowledge of the world. Signing the contract on his own blood, the tragedy begins to unfold with the battle for one’s soul.

“I am part of that power which eternally wills evil and eternally works good.”

In this late 19th century societal comedy, Oscar Wilde explores the relationship between political power and personal morality.

At Sir Robert Chiltern’s house in Grosvenor Square London, Mrs Cheveley, an old school friend of Robert’s wife, has returned from Vienna to blackmail the wealthy politician. He tries to hide his scandalous secret throughout the play as the witty Mrs Cheveley tries to bring it to light. Listen to find out if he manages to save his wife from finding out and if Mrs Cheveley is victorious in her blackmailing.

In this play, Oscar Wilde cleverly managed to get Victorian audiences to laugh at themselves.

This short one act comedy farce is based around the common approach to marriage in 19th century Russia. In the play we see Ivan, an anxious mid-thirty year old who is a wreck when it comes to proposing marriage. His neighbour Stephan, an older gentleman, grants him permission to marry his daughter. After an argument over the property however, the permission is revoked. Stephan’s main concerns are to maintain his wealth and happiness for his daughter, Natalya. The latter is just as stubborn as her male counterparts. This energetic farce keeps momentum from start to finish and is a real gem of a comedy.

John Webster’s 5 act tragedy is one of the last great works of the Elizabethan and Jacobean era. Published in 1623, it tells the story of the recently widowed Duchess and her love for the dependable Antonio, which is strongly opposed by her 2 brothers. This however doesn’t deter the couple who go on to marry in secret and have 3 children together. Their relationship doesn’t stay hidden for long as her brothers hire a spy, Bosola, who finds the evidence he needs to prove it. We see the Duchess and her family try to flee their situation, later followed by imprisonment, execution, and a very bloody ending. All the elements you would expect from a gory tail of revenge.

Milton’s tragic drama was never meant to be performed on stage, and he refers to his work as a “dramatic poem”. It is essentially based on a biblical story and heavily influenced by ancient Greek tragedies. The main character is the superhuman Samson, whose Achilles heel is his hair. The drama starts when his wife Dalila cuts it, diminishing his strength. He is then imprisoned and blinded by his enemies the philistines. Combat ensues, as this dark and violent tragedy continues.

This is an easier introduction to the work of John Milton than his more famous dramatic poem, Paradise Lost.

Norwegian playwright Ibsen’s four-act play is one of the most well-known of nineteenth-century theatre. Hedda Gabler is bored in her marriage to aspiring young academic George Tesman and is looking for a distraction. When Eilert Lovborg makes a reappearance, their lives are turned upside down. As an academic rival of George’s, and a man who was once in love with Hedda, there is only one way for things to go. Scandal, jealousy and suicide all appear in this remarkable work, which also contains one of the most recognised fictional female protagonists in classic literature.

Sopholos’ Athenian tragedy was first performed around 430 BC and is the second of his three Theban plays, although it comes first chronologically.

Oedipus is the ruler of Thebes, whose inhabitants have been struck by a plague. When Oedipus sees the Oracle, he finds out that the plague will only be stopped if the murderer of King Laius is brought to justice. As Oedipus embarks on a mission to find the killer, he learns that the old man he killed as a youth was none other than Laius himself.

Today, this classic Greek tragedy is regarded by many as par excellence and is still widely performed around the globe today.