The Shakespeare Collection DVD 2020 - Complete BBC TV Series

Our review of The Shakespeare Collection DVD 2020 finds it best suited to serious Shakespeare fans and educators who want the complete BBC Television Shakespeare cycle in one set. The bottom line: this boxed collection delivers all 37 televised productions from the BBC series, prized for their fidelity to the plays and for showcasing stage-calibre actors and directors. For viewers who value complete texts and theatrical performances preserved for the screen, this collection is the clearest, most comprehensive way to watch the BBC adaptations in sequence.

Key Features

• Complete set: Includes all 37 productions filmed for the BBC Television Shakespeare series, offering a single source for the entire project from Romeo and Juliet through Titus Andronicus plus Pericles.
• Textual fidelity: The adaptations are renowned for their loyalty to Shakespeare's language, which benefits students and viewers who prefer full dialogue and traditional readings.
• Notable cast and crew: Productions feature respected stage and screen performers and directors, giving each play theatrical depth and professional screencraft.
• Range of interpretations: The series contains both traditional stagings and more adventurous, stylised approaches, which provides variety across the collection.
• Television preservation: Collecting the entire BBC cycle preserves these televised interpretations for repeated viewing and classroom use.

Who It's For

This set is primarily for theatre devotees, literature teachers, and film students who want an authoritative recorded archive of the BBC Television Shakespeare. The emphasis on complete plays and stage-respecting direction makes it useful for close study, lecture clips, or group screenings.

Those seeking modern, heavily reimagined adaptations or a single standout blockbuster film might look elsewhere; this collection prioritises textual fidelity and theatrical performance over flashy contemporary retellings.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Comprehensive collection gathers all BBC televised Shakespeare plays in one package, ideal for reference or study.
• Faithful adaptations retain Shakespeare's language, supporting academic and theatrical appreciation.
• Featuring accomplished actors and directors, the productions convey professional stagecraft on television.

Cons

• The presentation favors traditional staging and may feel conservative to viewers expecting modernized film versions.

Specifications

Our Verdict

The Shakespeare Collection DVD 2020 is a valuable archive purchase for anyone who wants the BBC cycle intact: teachers, students, and serious fans will appreciate its fidelity to the plays and the consistent theatrical quality across productions. While not aimed at viewers seeking bold modern reworkings, it represents excellent value as a durable, study-ready compilation of televised Shakespeare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this set include every play filmed by the BBC?
Yes. It collects all 37 productions the BBC made for its Television Shakespeare project, including the 36 First Folio plays and Pericles.

Is the set suitable for classroom use?
Absolutely; the faithful texts and stage-like direction make it well suited to teaching and close textual study.

Are these modern film adaptations?
The series mostly presents traditional and occasionally stylised television stagings rather than contemporary reimaginings, so viewers wanting modernized adaptations may prefer other releases.