This strange, dark romance includes two songs composed by Shakespeare that are amongst the most beautiful in the English language.

Imogen, the child of Ruler Cymbeline, is persecuted by her wicked stepmother, the Queen, and by Cloten, the Queen’s doltish boy. Disguised as a son, she sets out to find her husband, the banished Posthumus. On her journey, she unwittingly matches her two brothers, stolen from the courtroom as newborns. Posthumus, meanwhile, has been convinced from the villainous Iachimo that Imogen is certainly unchaste and agrees to a test of her faithfulness.

Sophie Thompson is Imogen, and Ben Porter is Posthumus. Cymbeline is definitely played by Jack Shepherd while Suzanne Bertish is the Queen. Stephen Mangan takes on Cloten, and Ron Make plays Iachimo.

“Fine songs and poetry. The lively Arkangel cast, striv[ha sido] effectively for clearness and play.”—Audiofile