Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • GTA 6 cover art revealed
  • Summer Preview
  • Prime Day deals
  • Best gaming tech
  • New Games 2026
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Entertainment

William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Read The First Two Scenes

News
By sfx published 14 June 2013

EXCLUSIVE An extract from the opening pages of a book that brings iambic pentameter to Star Wars

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

“Alas, poor stormtrooper, I knew ye not…”

The most popular film franchise in history joins the world’s most famous and well-known writer in William Shakespeare’s Star Wars® : Verily, A New Hope . Accompanied by woodcut illustrations of Chewbacca, C-3PO and Luke Skywalker (in a striking Hamlet pose), this takes the reader line by line through the script of Star Wars in true iambic pentatameters from the Bard of Avon, using the language of his plays, and making it accessible to the modern reader.

This officially licensed re-telling takes you through the familiar story with all the flourishes and trademarks Shakespeare aficionados and scholars will recognise: dramatic soliloquies or telling asides from R2-D2 and other characters, references to the sonnets, speeches from Hamlet, Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, Henry V reworked to fit into the Stars Wars story and characters, exclamations such as “Marry!”; stage directions; a recognisable comedy routine by two guards near the Millennium Falcon as it is held captive on the Death Star, a mourning song from Princess Leia and much, much more!

Feel free to browse through the prologue and first two scenes here and on the following pages.

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:

You might also like: What If Shakespeare had written for Buffy The Vampire Slaye r?

Shakespeare’s Star Wars® : Verily, A New Hope is Published by Quirk Books on 2 July, £11.99.

You may like
  • Lando helmet replica from Star Wars, beside a Stormtrooper suit I went hands-on with the worst disguise in all of Star Wars
  • A green Spirit Jersey reading "Star Wars" with a forest design Sorry Star Wars fans, this new Endor merch needs to be in your collection
  • A hand holds a Star Wars lightsaber hilt I went hands on with a new Star Wars lightsaber replica unlike any other I've seen

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
sfx
sfx
Social Links Navigation
Magazine

SFX Magazine is the world's number one sci-fi, fantasy, and horror magazine published by Future PLC. Established in 1995, SFX Magazine prides itself on writing for its fans, welcoming geeks, collectors, and aficionados into its readership for over 25 years. Covering films, TV shows, books, comics, games, merch, and more, SFX Magazine is published every month. If you love it, chances are we do too and you'll find it in SFX.

Read more
Lando helmet replica from Star Wars, beside a Stormtrooper suit
Toys & Collectibles I went hands-on with the worst disguise in all of Star Wars
 
 
A green Spirit Jersey reading "Star Wars" with a forest design
Toys & Collectibles Sorry Star Wars fans, this new Endor merch needs to be in your collection
 
 
A hand holds a Star Wars lightsaber hilt
Toys & Collectibles I went hands on with a new Star Wars lightsaber replica unlike any other I've seen
 
 
Howard the Duck
Marvel Movies George Lucas once had a "brilliant idea" to make a special edition of Howard the Duck with Robin Williams
 
 
A hand holds cards from Star Wars: Battle of Hoth in front of a board full of miniatures
Board Games This Star Wars board game was one of the most anticipated releases of last year, and it's currently got a great discount
 
 
Someone wearing a Star Wars Jedi Temple Guard Mask against a star-filled background, with industrial features visible behind
Toys & Collectibles We're finally getting a Jedi Temple Guard mask replica this Star Wars day, and it's about time
 
 
Latest in Entertainment
Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Movies Darth Maul voice actor says seeing The Phantom Menace "was the biggest disappointment" of his life
 
 
Jim Carrey as the Grinch and Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who during How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Christmas Movies Despite calling the makeup process "excruciating," Jim Carrey is returning to The Grinch, 26 years later
 
 
Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2
Live Action Shows What time is Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 releasing on Netflix?
 
 
Tom Holland as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Marvel Movies Who is Spider-Man: Brand New Day's mystery villain? Our 5 biggest theories, from Mister Negative to Jean Grey
 
 
A screenshot from a Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer clip featuring Spider-Man web-swinging while holding a man
Marvel Movies Spider-Man: Brand New Day has already broken a record before it's even hit theaters
 
 
House of the Dragon
Fantasy Shows House of the Dragon fans are debating one of the show's biggest changes to George R.R. Martin's book
 
 
Latest in News
Protagonist Nico Bellic in GTA 4 wearing a suit and shades with his arms outstretched in a kind of "what gives" gesture
Grand Theft Auto We've been waiting so long for GTA 6 that someone just found another GTA 4 swingset glitch after 18 years
 
 
Yukiko and her Persona from Persona 4 Revival
Persona Persona 6 boss wants his games to be like "poison," something "that shakes people's values or gives them something to think about"
 
 
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Metal Gear After almost 25 years, Metal Gear Solid 2 players are still finding secrets
 
 
Ghost of Tsushima sequel Ghost of Yotei reveal trailer screenshot
Open World Games Fallout: New Vegas lead Josh Sawyer says Ghost of Tsushima and Yotei have "some of the best armor"
 
 
Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Movies Darth Maul voice actor says seeing The Phantom Menace "was the biggest disappointment" of his life
 
 
A Prologue: Go Wayback screenshot shows someone holding a compass in a forest.
Survival Games PUBG creator PlayerUnknown regrets that "we couldn't finish the journey" with his survival game
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Yukiko and her Persona from Persona 4 Revival
    1
    Persona 6 boss wants his games to be like "poison," something "that shakes people's values or gives them something to think about"
  2. 2
    CDPR boss hopes The Witcher 4 wins back fans still put off by Cyberpunk 2077's disastrous launch
  3. 3
    Fallout: New Vegas lead Josh Sawyer says Ghost of Tsushima and Yotei have "some of the best armor"
  4. 4
    PUBG creator PlayerUnknown regrets that "we couldn't finish the journey" with his survival game
  5. 5
    Final Fantasy 14 boss Yoshi-P has an idea for a "game design that combines AI and servers"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...