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Private Notes
Ralph Fiennes performs Richard, Duke of Gloucester’s soliloquy from Henry VI, Part III.
In celebration of Shakespeare's birthday and in partnership with Shakespeare's Globe we invited the general public to join leading actors in performing three of Shakespeare's iconic speeches from their place of quarantine: As You Like It, Hamlet and The Tempest. More than 500 people from around the world submitted and a selection of those performances have been edited together here as part of a relaunch of The Guardian's series, Shakespeare Solos.
Adrian Lester performs Hamlet’s soliloquy from act III, scene 1, in which the prince reflects on mortality and considers taking his own life.
Joanna Vanderham speaks Juliet’s monologue from the balcony scene in which she insists that her devotion to Romeo is true even if it has been a whirlwind romance.
Roger Allam plays Lear in act III, scene 2 of the tragedy. During a symbolic storm, the ageing king curses the weather and his daughters, and laments his frailty.
Eileen Atkins speaks Emilia’s lines from Othello, act IV scene 3. Emilia, Iago’s wife, counsels Desdemona on marriage and fidelity.
David Morrissey speaks the play’s opening lines in which the scheming Richard lays out his plan to turn his brothers, the Duke of Clarence and King Edward IV, against each other.
Ayesha Dharker plays Titania, queen of the fairies, who has quarrelled with Oberon. As the pair control the weather, their argument leads to a vision of nature’s chaos.
Joanna Lumley plays Viola in Twelfth Night. Viola, disguised as a page, wonders why Olivia has sent her a ring – and whether Olivia has fallen in love with her.
David Threlfall speaks Prospero’s lines in which the sorcerer contemplates the end of life – and the playwright, perhaps, considers the end of his career.
Daniel Mays speaks Macbeth’s lines from act II, scene 1. As Macbeth waits for the bell to signal the time for him to murder Duncan, he has a vision of a dagger.
Samuel West speaks Henry V’s soliloquy from act IV, scene 1. On the night before battle, Henry reflects upon the public’s expectations of the king.
Sacha Dhawan delivers Parolles’s lines from the first scene of All’s Well That Ends Well. Parolles urges Helena to consider the importance of losing one’s virginity.
Camille O’Sullivan plays Constance in King John. Constance laments the loss of her son, Arthur, but disputes the suggestion that she has gone mad.
Damian Lewis performs Antony’s lines from act III, scene 2 of Julius Caesar. Speaking at Caesar’s funeral, Antony turns the crowd against the conspirators
Laura Carmichael speaks Portia’s lines from act IV, scene 1. Disguised as the lawyer Balthasar, she tells the moneylender Shylock to be merciful.
Riz Ahmed speaks Edmund’s soliloquy from act I, scene 2 in King Lear. Edmund reflects upon being an illegitimate son and plots against his half-brother, Edgar.
Zawe Ashton speaks Jaques’s lines on the seven ages of man from act II, scene 7 of As You Like It.
Paterson Joseph speaks Shylock’s lines from act I, scene 3, in which the moneylender reminds his adversary, Antonio, of the times he has insulted him.
