The Winter’s Tale

Summary: 1981 BBC production of The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare, presented in the BBC Television Shakespeare series and preceded by a 25-minute programme, also on BBC2, in which Stephen Spender offered a personal view of the play.
Theatre play: The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare [more information]
Play synopsis: King Leontes of Sicily comes to believe his friend Polixenes, King of Bohemia, has been having an affair with his pregnant wife Hermione. Polixenes flees when Leontes attempts to poison him; Hermione is imprisoned, their son Mamilius dies of heartbreak and their newborn baby girl exiled. After sixteen years, during which time Leontes mourns the loss of his wife (whom he believes to be dead) and children, his son Florizel (Leontes’ son) falls in love with Perdita, the long-lost baby girl who has grown up in Bohemia as the daughter of a shepherd. The lovers are eventually accepted and Hermione, who has been living in seclusion, is found to be alive.
Production history: Performed around 1610-11.
Date of transmission: Sunday 8 February 1981
Time: 7.15-10.20pm (with short break at 8.35pm for the news)
Series: BBC Television Shakespeare
Channel: BBC2
Production company: BBC

Director

Jane Howell

Producer

Jonathan Miller

Lighting

Sam Barclay

Playwright

William Shakespeare

Composer

Dudley Simpson (1922-) (of incidental music)

Designer

Costume Designer

Make-up Artist

Choreographer

Script Editor

Cast

Title: The Winter’s Tale (BBC, 1981)
Archive: BBC Information and Archives [more information]
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