Paulina Monologue (Act 3, Scene 2)
Today we’re going to take a look at a monologue from one of Shakespeare’s great unsung heroes Paulina, from The Winters Tale. In this monologue we see a lot of pent up anger, fear and...
Monologues Unpacked
Working on a Shakespeare monologue? Here’s our database of Shakespearean monologues that we’ve broken down, translated and explained. We’ve done all the hard work for you!
Get stuck into many of Shakespeare’s iconic monologues and learn how to truly bring them to life. These pages are all broken down by professional actors, who in many cases have played the roles. The monologues unpacked team includes Damien Strouthos, Jess Tovey and Andrew Hearle.
Prospero Monologue (Epilogue)
Today we’re gonna break down Prospero’s final speech from The Tempest. This speech, like so many in Shakespeare’s canon, offers a sort of meta perspective into the mind of the Bard himself. Many believe The...
Iago Monologue (Act 2 Scene 3)
Iago is one of Shakespeare’s greatest villains. Though most actors exploring the character of Iago for auditions gravitate towards Iago’s Act 2 Scene 1 monologue, this is a terrific alternative. It contains all of Iago’s...
Cordelia Monologue (Act 4 Scene 7)
One of the greatest tragedies of Shakespeare’s canon is that of Cordelia and her Father Lear, the King. They are separated at the beginning of the play due to what is essentially a misunderstanding and...
John of Gaunt Monologue (Act 2 Scene 1)
These words are some of the last words spoken by John of Gaunt, father to Henry Bolingbroke, in the moments preceding one of Shakespeare’s most famous speeches. These lines set the scene for this speech...
Imogen Monologue (Act 3 Scene 6)
Cymbeline is one of Shakespeare’s most challenging plays to tackle. Written towards the end of Shakespeare’s career, the play seems to veer away from his traditional structures and tropes. In this play he seems to...
Polonius Monologue (Act 1 Scene 3)
The story of Hamlet is very much a family drama. Though the play is set in a royal palace in Denmark, the story which unfolds is born from the relationships between family members. The relationship...
Hermione Monologue (Act 3, Scene 2)
This is the iconic monologue from The Winter’s Tale. If you are looking for an audition piece, or just a really great piece of text to work on, look no further. It’s powerful, direct and...
Angelo Monologue (Act 2 Scene 2)
Here we explore one of the most iconic monologues featured in Measure for Measure. Angelo, who initially appears one of the most moral and pious characters, finds himself forever altered by the virtuous Isabella. Though...
Coriolanus Monologue (Act 3, Scene 3)
Let’s take a look at what is most likely Coriolanus’ most famous speech. This is a dramatic speech and is fantastic for auditions as it allows the actor to go into heightened emotions and stakes...