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Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be!

Episode 1 of 6

Shakespearean sitcom. Will has a problem with A Midsummer Night's Dream, a love potion and a donkey head.

Will is just finishing writing A Midsummer Night's Dream, a tale of love potions, enchantment and a wood full of fairies. He is very pleased with how realistic it is as he based it on his own experience. But Burbage and the other actors tell him it lacks a little comedy, like say a character with a funny name or a big visual joke. Meanwhile back in Will's lodgings where on earth is his servant Bottom going to put that donkey head?

Kate has problems of her own, because Lord Egeus, a rather old but very wealthy gentleman, has taken a shine to her, and Robert Greene is determined to be the matchmaker. Along the way we learn a little more about how Will and Anne found love, and how Will managed to get hold of a love potion.

Available now

29 minutes

Audio described

Last on

Thu 1 May 202523:55

Credits

RoleContributor
CondellDominic Coleman
Kit MarloweTim Downie
John ShakespeareHarry Enfield
Robert GreeneMark Heap
KempeSpencer Jones
Will ShakespeareDavid Mitchell
Susanna ShakespeareHelen Monks
PuckKen Nwosu
Lord EgeusNigel Planer
BottomRob Rouse
BurbageSteve Speirs
Anne ShakespeareLiza Tarbuck
KateGemma Whelan
Mary ShakespearePaula Wilcox
Judith ShakespeareRosanna Beacock
Hamnet ShakespeareJoe Willis
WriterBen Elton
DirectorRichard Boden
ProducerGareth Edwards
Executive ProducerChris Sussman

Broadcasts

  • Wed 29 Aug 201820:30
  • Mon 14 Apr 202522:00
  • Thu 1 May 202523:55