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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: ABRIDGED was written and first performed by the Reduced Shakespeare Company in 1997 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It was preformed in the Criterion Theatre in London for nine years, breaking the previous record held by Run For Your Wife which ran for only six. It’s a fast-paced parody of thirty-six plays by William Shakespeare with each play taking around two minutes or less. The play is usually performed by an all male cast of three who will speak directly to the audience and improvise throughout. Its most known however not for breaking records or the unusual casting but for the condensing the usually four hour-long play, Hamlet, into a stunning 43 seconds.

history of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged

The play was written by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, and first performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1987. It’s a parody of the plays by William Shakespeare, it is usually performed by three men who play all the parts. They usually speak directly to the audience and improvise. Was performed in the Criterion Theatre in London for nine years breaking the previous record. It is most notable for condensing the usually four hours play, Hamlet, into a stunning 43 seconds.