The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]

Adam Long, Daniel Singer, Jess Winfield, new revisions by Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield
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Description

The cultural touchstone that is THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) was born when three inspired, charismatic comics, having honed their pass-the-hat act at Renaissance fairs, premiered their preposterous masterwork at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1987. It quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, earning the title of London’s longest-running comedy after a decade at the Criterion Theatre. THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) is one of the world’s most frequently produced plays and has been translated into several dozen languages. Featured are all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays, meant to be performed in 97 minutes, by three actors. Fast paced, witty, and physical, it’s full of laughter for Shakespeare lovers and haters alike. The original version was followed by the 2010 REVISED version, and this latest REVISED AGAIN version includes changes that celebrate and encourage greater diversity and inclusivity in today’s theater!

Production Info

Cast: 3 total (3 male, as originally performed; gender-diverse and/or expanded casts welcome)
Full Length Comedy (about 97 minutes)
Minimal Set Requirements
Period Costumes
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Reviews

Press Quotes

“A madcap condensation that features nonstop laughs. Done at a whirlwind pace and with great delight, they are sure to win over even the most skeptical. And there is no doubt that William Shakespeare himself … would approve.” —Daily Variety

“If you like Shakespeare, you’ll like this show. If you hate Shakespeare, you’ll love this show!” —The Today Show

“Stupendous, anchorless joy!” —The London Times

“Wildly funny. Masterful!” —The Los Angeles Times

“The funniest show you are likely to see in your entire lifetime.” —The Montreal Gazette

“Shamelessly heretical!” —Time Out (London)

“Gloriously, relaxingly funny.” —The Financial Times

“Shakespeare as it was back in the Bard’s day: bawdy, irreverent, sublimely entertaining.” —The Miami Herald

About the Author

Author

  • Adam Long

    Adam Long is the co-creator, co-writer and director of the Reduced Shakespeare Company's THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED), which ran in London's West End for nine years and was nominated for an Olivier Award. THE COMPLETE WORKS also ran Off-Broadway twice and continues to enjoy numerous successful tours throughout the world. His feature-length film THE BARN won The Raindance Award at the British Independent Film Awards. Adam has written for Disney (DUDE THAT'S MY GHOST, HISTORY ON TOAST and LAST MINUTE BOOK REPORTS), PBS (THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED)), Channel Four UK (TRIGGER HAPPY TV and THE RING REDUCED), BBC Radio Four (THE HISTORY BOYS CONDENSED, CONDENSED HISTORIES OF THE BRITISH POLITICAL PARTIES and HOME TRUTHS) and Lucasfilm & BSkyB (STAR WARS SHORTENED). Other stage shows include DICKENS ABRIDGED (The Arts Theatre, London and UK Tour), SATAN SINGS MOSTLY SONDHEIM (Jermyn St. Theatre, London), THE BIBLE: THE COMPLETE WORD OF GOD (ABRIDGED) (Reduced Shakespeare), THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF AMERICA (ABRIDGED) (Reduced Shakespeare), and DECONSTRUCTING ALBERT (The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield). Adam also provides the voice of Mr. Small for the BAFTA and Emmy Award winning THE AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL(Cartoon Network).

  • Daniel Singer

    Daniel Singer has been a theatrical impresario from the moment he looked up the word 'impresario' in the dictionary, founding his first company, General Amazement Theater in Santa Rosa, California, when he was just 18. Upon his return from studying "proper dramatic technique" in London, he became a director at the original Renaissance Pleasure Faire, where he founded the subversive Reduced Shakespeare Company, whose three-man farce THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) enjoyed a record-breaking run in London's West End and has since become one of the world's most popular comedy shows. In 1989 Daniel hung up his doublet-and-hose to design theme park attractions at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he also co-founded the Flower Street Players, an in-house theater company for Disney employees. Since 2000, Daniel has been a freelance designer, writer, and event producer in Los Angeles. His new hit comedy, A PERFECT LIKENESS, chronicles Lewis Carroll's (fictitious) attempt to get his literary hero Charles Dickens to pose for a photograph in 1866 Oxford. Coming soon to a theater near you!

  • Jess Winfield

    Jess Winfield was an original member of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, co-author of THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED), and performed with the troupe from its founding in 1981 until 1992, when he realized he'd played the title role of Hamlet more times than John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier combined and suddenly felt very old. He left the troupe to write and produce animated television for the Walt Disney Company, which made him feel young again — until he'd been there for ten years, at which point he felt old again. He left Disney to write My Name Is Will — A Novel of Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare (Twelve Books). Depicting excessive drug use and promiscuous sex by both a would-be young Shakespeare scholar in the 1980s and the 18-year-old Immortal Bard himself in the 1580s made Jess feel young again; but then he and Daniel Singer revised the COMPLETE WORKS in honor of its 20th anniversary and directed it in the West End, which made him feel old again. He now lives in Hollywood with his wife (and original RSC costume goddess), Sa, and is working on his second novel … which makes him feel like he's in his forties.

About the Book

Book Information

Publisher Applause
Publication Date 10/15/2023
Pages 154
ISBN 9781493077304

Special Notes

Special Notes

All licensees are required to give credit to the original stage producers of the play in the following form on the title page in all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play and in all advertising in which the full cast appears in size of type not less than ten percent (10%) of the size of the title of the Play:

Originally produced by Reduced Shakespeare Company

In addition, the following must appear within all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play:

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (abridged) is performed
by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc, New York, NY
Productions

Upcoming and Recent Productions

Professional


9/20/2024 – 10/6/2024
Newark, DE

8/7/2024 – 8/24/2024
Port Perry, ON, Canada

8/1/2024 – 8/14/2024
Atlanta, GA

7/20/2024 – 8/24/2024
Conception Harbour, NL, Canada

7/19/2024 – 7/28/2024
Eau Claire, WI

6/14/2024 – 7/7/2024
Staunton, VA

6/6/2024 – 6/16/2024
New Orleans, LA

3/15/2024 – 3/31/2024
Harlequin Productions
Olympia, WA

11/29/2023 – 2/18/2024
Southern Shakespeare Company
Tallahassee, FL

9/8/2023 – 10/13/2023
University Of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR

7/28/2023 – 8/5/2023
Shake On The Lake, Inc
Perry, NY

7/15/2023 – 9/15/2023
New Swan Shakespeare Center
Irvine, CA

7/14/2023 – 8/3/2023
Shake On The Lake, Inc
Various Locations, NY

7/6/2023 – 7/6/2023
University Of Central Arkansas
North Little Rock, AR

6/30/2023 – 7/1/2023
University Of Central Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR

6/28/2023 – 7/29/2023
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater
Wellfleet, MA

6/28/2023 – 7/16/2023
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
Center Valley, PA

6/17/2023 – 6/24/2023
University Of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR

6/16/2023 – 6/16/2023
University Of Central Arkansas
Hot Springs, AR

6/10/2023 – 6/10/2023
University Of Central Arkansas
Morrilton, AR

6/9/2023 – 6/9/2023
University Of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR

5/17/2023 – 6/4/2023
American Shakespeare Center
Staunton, VA

Nonprofessional


5/23/2025 – 6/1/2025
Killeen, TX

5/8/2025 – 5/10/2025
New Hope, PA

3/27/2025 – 4/12/2025
Grande Prairie, AB, Canada

3/6/2025 – 3/7/2025
Danville, VA

2/8/2025 – 2/17/2025
Ellsworth, ME

2/5/2025 – 2/8/2025
Do It With Class Young Peoples' Theatre
Regina, SK, Canada

11/9/2024 – 11/10/2024
Vancouver, WA

11/1/2024 – 11/9/2024
Pahrump, NV

10/3/2024 – 10/5/2024
Olathe Northwest High School
Olathe, KS

9/26/2024 – 9/28/2024
Chickasha, OK

9/25/2024 – 9/27/2024
Parkway North Hs
Saint Louis, MO

7/28/2024 – 8/8/2024
Steamboat Springs, CO

7/26/2024 – 7/28/2024
Friends Of Ruth Gordon Amphitheater
Quincy, MA

7/11/2024 – 7/21/2024
Jackdonkey Productions
Minneapolis, MN

6/21/2024 – 8/4/2024
Fresno, CA

6/20/2024 – 6/23/2024
East Lansing, MI

6/14/2024 – 6/16/2024
Greenport, NY

6/7/2024 – 6/9/2024
Jamesport, NY

5/18/2024 – 5/19/2024
Az Northstar Arts Theater
Scottsdale, AZ

5/14/2024 – 7/30/2024
Annapolis, MD

5/10/2024 – 5/25/2024
Bend, OR

5/10/2024 – 5/12/2024
Bryan, TX

5/3/2024 – 5/11/2024
Oak Park, IL

5/2/2024 – 5/7/2024
Pocatello, ID

5/2/2024 – 5/4/2024
Andale High School
Wichita, KS

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Cary, IL

4/26/2024 – 5/5/2024
Lebanon, OH

4/19/2024 – 4/20/2024
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4/18/2024 – 4/20/2024
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4/12/2024 – 4/21/2024
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4/12/2024 – 4/13/2024
Sedalia School District 200
Sedalia, MO

4/12/2024 – 4/21/2024
Lenoir, NC

4/10/2024 – 4/13/2024
Hartwick College
Oneonta, NY

4/5/2024 – 4/14/2024
The Village Players
Toledo, OH

4/5/2024 – 4/21/2024
Rpg Entertainment Llc
Hamtramck, MI

3/22/2024 – 3/24/2024
Kokomo Civic Theatre
Kokomo, IN

3/15/2024 – 3/17/2024
Geneva Park District
Geneva, IL

3/15/2024 – 3/23/2024
Community Players
Naperville, IL

3/9/2024 – 3/30/2024
Curtain Call Theatre
Monte Rio, CA

3/1/2024 – 3/17/2024
Red Curtain Foundation For The Arts
Marysville, WA

3/1/2024 – 3/3/2024
Minnesota West
Worthington, MN

3/1/2024 – 3/2/2024
Pike Theatre Department
Indianapolis, IN

2/26/2024 – 4/6/2024
Beverly's Terrace Plaza Playhouse
Washington Terrace, UT

2/22/2024 – 3/2/2024
Millersville University
Millersville, PA

2/16/2024 – 2/25/2024
Chadron State College
Chadron, NE

2/9/2024 – 2/10/2024
Mccluer High School
Florissant, MO

2/9/2024 – 2/10/2024
Community High School District 128
Libertyville, IL

2/8/2024 – 2/25/2024
Santa Fe Classic Theater
Santa Fe, NM

2/8/2024 – 2/11/2024
West Port High School
Ocala, FL

2/8/2024 – 2/11/2024
Warren Players
Warren, PA

2/2/2024 – 2/11/2024
Stevensville Playhouse
Stevensville, MT

1/26/2024 – 2/17/2024
The Company Onstage
Houston, TX

1/26/2024 – 1/31/2024
Westlake High School
Austin, TX

1/25/2024 – 1/27/2024
Dorman High School
Roebuck, SC

1/18/2024 – 1/21/2024
Waco High Theatre
Waco, TX

12/7/2023 – 12/10/2023
Simi Valley High School
Simi Valley, CA

12/1/2023 – 12/9/2023
Norman Family Theatre
Norman, OK

11/29/2023 – 12/10/2023
Marco Island Center For The Arts
Marco Island, FL

11/21/2023 – 11/21/2023
Edmonson County High School Drama
Brownsville, KY

11/18/2023 – 11/19/2023
Oceanside Union Free School District
Oceanside, NY

11/17/2023 – 11/19/2023
Ayer Shirley Regional High School Drama
Ayer, MA

11/16/2023 – 11/19/2023
West Springfield High School
West Springfield, MA

11/10/2023 – 11/12/2023
West Carrollton City Schools
Dayton, OH

11/9/2023 – 11/12/2023
Gonzaga College High School
Washington, DC

11/8/2023 – 11/11/2023
Algoam Repertory Theatre
Sault Ste Marie, ON, Canada

11/7/2023 – 11/10/2023
Arts Center, Lake Superior State University
Sault Sainte Marie, MI

11/3/2023 – 11/4/2023
Temple College
Temple, TX

11/3/2023 – 11/5/2023
Stage Coach Players
DeKalb, IL

11/3/2023 – 11/5/2023
Austin College
Sherman, TX

11/2/2023 – 11/12/2023
D'youville University
Buffalo, NY

11/2/2023 – 11/4/2023
Pittsford Mendon High School Drama Club
Pittsford, NY

11/1/2023 – 11/4/2023
Waldorf University Theatre
Forest City, IA

10/27/2023 – 10/29/2023
North Warren Regional High School
Blairstown, NJ

10/20/2023 – 10/29/2023
The Garden Theatre
Houston, TX

10/6/2023 – 10/15/2023
Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre
Kansas City, MO

10/6/2023 – 10/7/2023
Mattoon High School
Mattoon, IL

10/6/2023 – 10/8/2023
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA

10/5/2023 – 10/15/2023
Blue Ridge Community Theater
Blue Ridge, GA

9/15/2023 – 9/30/2023
Pegasus Playhouse
Springfield, OR

8/23/2023 – 8/25/2023
Montalvo Arts Center
Saratoga, CA

8/5/2023 – 9/3/2023
Atlanta Shakespeare Company
Atlanta, GA

7/6/2023 – 7/29/2023
Fenix Theatre Company
Portland, ME

6/22/2023 – 6/22/2023
Senior Decats
Dallas, TX

6/17/2023 – 6/17/2023
The British Officers Club Washington Dc
Alexandria, VA

6/2/2023 – 6/11/2023
Savannah River Productions, Inc.
Lavonia, GA

5/24/2023 – 5/25/2023
Leesville Road High School
Raleigh, NC

5/19/2023 – 5/21/2023
Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School
Plymouth, MA

5/18/2023 – 5/20/2023
Phoenix Talent School District
Phoenix, OR

5/18/2023 – 5/21/2023
The First Parish Players
Bridgewater, MA

5/17/2023 – 5/25/2023
Central Valley High School Theatre
Spokane Valley, WA

5/11/2023 – 5/13/2023
Kenmore West Theatre
Buffalo, NY

5/8/2023 – 5/9/2023
Maine Coast Waldorf School
Freeport, ME

5/5/2023 – 5/21/2023
Venice Theatre
Venice, FL

4/28/2023 – 4/29/2023
Henry Ford College Theatre
Dearborn, MI

4/21/2023 – 4/30/2023
Central Theatre Arts Academy @ Mililani High School
Honolulu, HI

4/20/2023 – 4/22/2023
Merrimack College Onstagers
North Andover, MA

4/15/2023 – 4/16/2023
University Of Redlands
Redlands, CA

4/14/2023 – 4/15/2023
Teach Northwest
Eugene, OR

4/14/2023 – 4/23/2023
Seminole State College Of Florida
Sanford, FL

4/13/2023 – 4/15/2023
Vernon Hills High School
Vernon Hills, IL

4/13/2023 – 4/15/2023
Jasper High School Theatre
Plano, TX

3/24/2023 – 3/25/2023
Science Hill High School
Johnson City, TN

3/24/2023 – 3/25/2023
Decatur Area Arts Council
Decatur, IL

3/10/2023 – 3/18/2023
Canton High School - Pcep
Canton, MI

3/3/2023 – 3/4/2023
Leavenworth High School
Leavenworth, KS

3/3/2023 – 3/5/2023
Armada High School
Armada, MI

2/2/2023 – 3/6/2023
University Of North Carolina -Ch
Chapel Hill, NC

2/2/2023 – 2/26/2023
Rock Valley College
Rockford, IL

12/15/2022 – 12/15/2022
Lasa High School
Austin, TX

12/9/2022 – 12/10/2022
Rogers High School
Middletwon, RI

12/1/2022 – 12/3/2022
Auburn High School
Rockford, IL

11/17/2022 – 12/11/2022
Many Hats Theatre Company
Penticton, BC, Canada

11/17/2022 – 11/20/2022
Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, NC

11/17/2022 – 11/19/2022
Hicksville High School
Hicksville, NY

11/15/2022 – 11/16/2022
Marion Isd
Marion, TX

11/4/2022 – 11/6/2022
Woodlake Unified School District
Woodlake, CA

11/4/2022 – 11/5/2022
Elgin Academy
Elgin, IL

10/27/2022 – 10/29/2022
St Louis Priory School
Saint Louis, MO

10/14/2022 – 10/16/2022
Assumption High School
Davenport, IA

10/14/2022 – 10/15/2022
Brattleboro Union High School
Brattleboro, VT