This is not a game ... it is a play reading from Ian Doescher's book William Shakespeare's Avengers The Complete Works.

What if the most epic cinematic fantasy of all time had been penned by the greatest playwright of all time? Wonder no more! In William Shakespeare's Avengers, the best selling author of the William Shakespeare's Star Wars series has reimagined the Avengers films as plays penned by the bard himself.

Each reader will have a small number of characters and a script in glorious iambic pentameter to read from. If you want a break from role-playing and enjoy reading aloud this is the session for you!

It's the end of Year 13 (Seventh Form) at Raumati High School, and Mr. O'Strate's theatre class has just performed 'Much Ado About Nothing' as part of the school's cultural concert, to rapturous applause. You all decided to attend the cast party at Leonato's place, while his parents are out of town, because they've got a pool and a well-stocked liquor cabinet that would have kept you busy, even if Don John didn't bring the keg. Needless to say, you all got absolutely hammered.
Now it's the next morning, and you can only remember bits and pieces of what you did last night. Crawling through the wreckage of the living room in the late-morning light, you've got to ask yourself - who was screwing in Leonato's room? Why do Benedick and Beatrice hate each other even more now? And what was in that weird green bottle?

'Quick and Queasy' is the fifth and final Shakespeare game for 16 players. It's about looking forward to the future and trying to remember the past. It's about romance and sex and melodrama and other poor teenage choices. Knowledge of 'Much Ado About Nothing' is fun if you're playing, but not necessary. While the game is light-hearted and funny, sensible players are preferred to handle the game's more adult themes.

A play reading of William Shakespeare's The Jedi Doth Return by Ian Doescher

The epic trilogy that began with William Shakespeare’s Star Wars and continued with The Empire Striketh Back concludes herein with the all-new, all-iambic The Jedi Doth Return—perchance the greatest adventure of them all.

Prithee, attend the tale so far: Han Solo entombed in carbonite, the princess taken captive, the Rebel Alliance besieged, and Jabba the Hutt engorged. Alack! Now Luke Skywalker and his Rebel band must seek fresh allies in their quest to thwart construction of a new Imperial Death Star. But whom can they trust to fight by their side in the great battle to come? Cry “Ewok” and let slip the dogs of war!

Frozen heroes! Furry creatures! Family secrets revealed! And a lightsaber duel to decide the fate of the Empire. In troth, William Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return has it all!

A play reading of William Shakespeare's Star Wars: The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher

The saga that began with the reading of William Shakespeare's Star Wars continues with this merry reimagining of George Lucas's enduring classic The Empire Strikes Back.

Many a fortnight have passed since the destruction of the Death Star. Young Luke Skywalker and his friends have taken refuge on the ice planet of Hoth, where the evil Darth Vader has hatched a cold-blooded plan to capture them. Only with the help of a little green Jedi Master—and a swaggering rascal named Lando Calrissian—can our heroes escape the Empire's wrath. And only then will Lord Vader learn how sharper than a tauntaun's tooth it is to have a Jedi child.

What light through Yoda's window breaks? Methinks you'll find out in the reading of of The Empire Striketh Back!

This is not a game ... it is a play reading of Ian Doescher's "William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope".

Return once more to a galaxy far, far away with this sublime retelling of George Lucas's epic in the style of the immortal Bard of Avon. The saga of a wise (Jedi) knight and an evil (Sith) lord, of a beautiful princess held captive and a young hero coming of age, Star Wars abounds with all the vallour and villainy of Shakespeare's greatest plays. 'Tis a tale told by fretful Droids, full of faithful Wookiees and fearsome Stormtroppers, signifying ... pretty much everything.

Reimagined in glorious iambic pentameter, William Shakespeare's Star Wars will astound and edify Rebels and Imperials alike. Zounds! This _is_ the play reading you're looking for.

Some time ago, old King Hamlet of Denmark passed away. He was taking his customary afternoon nap in the orchard when his heart failed him. Many gathered to Elsinore Castle for his funeral and for the wedding, a month later, of his widow, Queen Gertrude, to the late King’s younger brother, Claudius.
After the wedding and Claudius’ subsequent coronation, the castle returned, for the most part, to its former cheer, with nightly festivity and revelry. The only exception to this was young Prince Hamlet, son of the late King, who would not give up his mourning. Neither did he celebrate his mother’s marriage, arguing instead that marrying a late husband’s brother should be considered incestuous.
Shortly after the departure of Advisor Polonius’ son, Laertes, for France, Hamlet began behaving even more oddly. The consensus seemed to be that he had gone insane (rumors said for love of Polonius’ daughter, Ophelia). Hamlet’s condition caused everyone to tread lightly.
Then, for a time, things seemed to be looking up. A diplomatic agreement with the King of Norway deterred an attack by Prince Fortinbras’ army on Denmark. Deciding that it might be better for Hamlet to get away from Elsinore for a time, the King and Queen made arrangements for him to sail to England. That same evening, Hamlet sponsored a play for the court, an apparent sign that he was at last beginning to recover his former levity.
However, everything fell apart again that night. The play turned out to be about a regicide, an unsubtle accusation leveled by Hamlet at Claudius. Understandably angry, the King left abruptly, creating a great deal of awkward tension. A few hours after, Polonius was accidentally killed when he tripped and fell down the stairs. The court once more entered a state of mourning.
Rather than subject Hamlet to more grief, the King hastened his departure for England. Tonight marks Hamlet’s last evening in Elsinore for some time. He will be sailing in a few hours with the evening tide, and will remain in England for the indefinite future, until he recovers his health.
Thus, despite the general gloom of mourning in the castle, the King has called together a small gathering to see him off.

(This game is by Shifting Forest Storyworks. Character genders are hardset, but crossplaying is possible.)

A play reading of William Shakespeare's Star Wars by Ian Doescher

Return once more to a galaxy far, far away with this sublime retelling of George Lucas's epic Star Wars in the style of the immortal Bard of Avon. The saga of a wise (Jedi) knight and an evil (Sith) lord, of a beautiful princess held captive and a young hero coming of age, Star Wars abounds with all the valour and villainy of Shakespeares's greatest plays. 'Tis a tale told by fretful Droids, full of faithful Wookiees and fearsome Stormtroopers, signifying... pretty much everything.

Reimagined in glorious iambic pentameter, William Shakespeare's Star Wars will astound and edify Rebels and Imperials alike. Zounds! This is the experience you've been looking for.

Mr O'Strate, the teacher behind last year's eerily realistic production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', now has a group of students who've somehow managed to avoid hearing the horror stories about the last play he helmed. Now, with a dog-eared copy of 'Twelfth Night' under his arm, he's brought you all here for another rehearsal. Things are feeling weird, though. You've got the urge to find true love, cast old fears aside, and really get invested in your characters. Will Sir Toby sober up before dress rehearsal? Will Feste learn to play the ukulele? And will anybody be able to tell the twin brothers apart?
It's all happening tonight. And remember: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Emphasis on the word 'thrust'.

Russ Kale wrote and ran 'Quick Bright Things' at Victoria University and Chimera in 2012. William Shakespeare wrote 'Macbeth' and accidentally spawned a number of teen comedies. Player advisory: this game will involve coarse language, sexual content and poor life choices.