A star-studded BBC period drama that brings some of Shakespeare’s most famous history plays to the screen is now available to rent on Prime Video, making The Hollow Crown an appealing choice for weekend viewing.

First broadcast in 2012, The Hollow Crown ran for two seasons and adapted a series of Shakespeare’s historical plays, including Richard II, Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, Henry V, Henry VI, Part 1, Henry VI, Part 2, and Richard III.

The drama follows the lives and reigns of several English monarchs as they contend with political intrigue, battles for power and the constant threat of losing the throne.

Its second season, titled The Wars of the Roses, turns to the English civil conflicts that took place between 1455 and 1487. At the heart of the struggle were the Houses of York and Lancaster, whose bitter rivalry centred on control of the English crown.

An impressive cast

The Hollow Crown brought together some of Britain’s best-known actors, with each episode featuring an exceptional ensemble. The cast includes Ben Whishaw, Patrick Stewart, Jeremy Irons, Tom Hiddleston, Michelle Dockery, Julie Walters, Sophie Okonedo and Judi Dench.

The series has also been praised for making Shakespeare more approachable for contemporary audiences.

That reception is reflected in its current 98 per cent fresh rating, putting it ahead of Downton Abbey, which has a 92 per cent score. The Shakespeare adaptation has attracted considerable praise from viewers online.

One five-star Amazon reviewer described it as “Shakespeare for the 21st Century: a triumph and a masterpiece.”

They added: “Overall: fabulous, brilliant, a feast for the eye, the ear and the mind.”

Another viewer gave the series a highly rated review titled “Highly Recommended Shakespearean Set – Essential viewing!”

A third audience member explained that The Hollow Crown was their first experience of Shakespeare. They admitted that they initially had to concentrate because of the old English, but soon became accustomed to it and found the series riveting.

Viewers on IMDb have similarly highlighted the way the adaptation makes Shakespeare’s work more accessible to modern audiences.

Viewers praise the adaptation

One viewer gave the series a 10/10 rating and praised the cast for their understanding of Shakespeare’s work. They said watching actors who could convey that understanding through their performances was like entering “a world of majesty, of subtle innuendo, of humour and of total understanding” of Shakespeare’s writing and the political events of his era.

Another admirer praised the production for succeeding where other adaptations had struggled, saying it had managed to create compelling cinema from the original plays while retaining the necessary realism without taking away from the source material.

With its combination of Shakespearean drama, historical conflict and a cast packed with acclaimed performers, The Hollow Crown offers a modern screen adaptation of some of the Bard’s most significant historical works.

The Hollow Crown is available to rent on Prime Video.