Cymbeline, Refinished

One great playwright rewrites another, as George Bernard Shaw imagines a far more rational, refreshingly feminist ending for Shakespeare’s Cymbeline. In the same vein as Shaw’s final work Shakes versus Shav—a 10-minute Punch and Judy show in which the two bards debate who’s the better writer—Shaw tries to improve upon “one of Shakespeare’s finest later works” that nonetheless “goes to pieces” in Act V. The reading will feature Shakespeare’s original play, with Shaw’s reimagined final act, giving us a seamless experience of the two singular geniuses.

This event will premiere LIVE from the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at Peter Norton Symphony Space on Monday, May 18, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET. A recording will be available from Tuesday, May 19 at 7:30 PM ET thru Sunday, May 24 at 11:59 PM ET. Open captions will be available from Wednesday, May 20 at 7:30 PM ET thru Sunday, May 24 at 11:59 PM ET.

Made possible by the special support of the Michael Tuch Foundation.