Learning on ScreenLibation Bearers
- Summary
- The National Theatre production of Aeschylus’ Oresteia, a Greek tragic trilogy consisting of Agamemnon, Libation Bearers and Furies was transmitted on Channel 4 on 9 October 1983. In between the three plays, two specially devised video compositions of music, movement and images, commissioned from After Image, were shown. On 8 October, the one-hour documentary The Oresteia at Epidaurus was transmitted at 8.00pm.
- Theatre play
- Choephoroi by Aeschylus [more information]
- Date of transmission
- Sunday 9 October 1983
- Time
- 9.05pm
- Channel
- Channel 4
- Production company
- National Theatre, London; Films for the Humanities & Sciences
- Theatre company
- National Theatre, London
Credits
- Director
- Peter Hall
- Producer
- Peter Hall
- Lighting
- John Bury
- Playwright
- Aeschylus
- Translator
- Tony Harrison
- Composer
- Harrison Birtwistle (1934-)
- Designer
- Jocelyn Herbert (1917-2003)
- Masks by
- Jocelyn Herbert (1917-2003)
- Movement
- Stuart Hopps
- Cast
Sean Baker Chorus; Priestess David Bamber Chorus Nigel Bellairs Anti-Chorus Mark Bond Anti-Chorus James Carter Chorus; Agamemnon Timothy Davies Chorus; Pylades Peter Dawson Chorus Philip Donaghy Chorus; Clytemnestra Martin Garfield Anti-Chorus Roger Gartland Chorus; Electra Peter Gerald Anti-Chorus John Gill Anti-Chorus Colin Haigh Anti-Chorus Peter Hale Anti-Chorus James Hayes Chorus; Nurse Greg Hicks Chorus; Orestes Robert Howard Anti-Chorus Kenny Ireland Chorus; Apollo Alfred Lynch Chorus; Aegisthus John Normington Chorus; Cassandra Graham Pountney Anti-Chorus Robert Ralph Anti-Chorus Tony Robinson Chorus; Servant David Roper Chorus; Watchman Norman Rutherford Anti-Chorus Barrie Rutter Chorus; Herald Leslie Southwick Anti-Chorus Michael Thomas Chorus; Athena Glenn Williams Anti-Chorus Richard Williams Anti-Chorus
Additional details
- Vision original
- Colour
- Notes
- The cast listed here is for ‘The Oresteia Company’, as listed in the credits following each play. It is likely, but not easy to tell for sure, that all members took part in each play.
- Play tags
- Greek drama; tragedy
Audiovisual sources
- Title
- Oresteia (NT / Channel 4, 1983)
- Archive
- NT Archive [more information]
Address
NT Studio, 83-101 The Cut
Telephone
London
SE1 8LL
UK+44 (0)20 7452 3135
EmailUse the contact form at http://catalogue.nationaltheatre.org.uk/CalmView/ContactUsForm.aspx
Websitehttp://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/discover-more/archive
AccessThe NT Archive is open to researchers Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 5.00pm, excepting Thursdays when it is open from 12.00pm to 8.00pm, by prior appointment only.
- Title
- The Oresteia (NT / Channel 4, 1983)
- Archive
- BFI Reuben Library [more information]
Address
BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road
Email
South Bank
London
SE1 8XT
UKUse the contact form at http://www.bfi.org.uk/form/contact-bfi-library
Websitehttp://www.bfi.org.uk/education-research/bfi-reuben-library/visiting-bfi-reuben-library
AccessThe BFI Library is open from 10.30am to 7.00pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Access to special collections material is by appointment.
- Title
- The Oresteia at Epidaurus [documentary]
- Archive
- NT Archive [more information]
Address
NT Studio, 83-101 The Cut
Telephone
London
SE1 8LL
UK+44 (0)20 7452 3135
EmailUse the contact form at http://catalogue.nationaltheatre.org.uk/CalmView/ContactUsForm.aspx
Websitehttp://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/discover-more/archive
AccessThe NT Archive is open to researchers Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 5.00pm, excepting Thursdays when it is open from 12.00pm to 8.00pm, by prior appointment only.
- Notes
- This documentary was transmitted on 8 October 1983, 8-9pm.
Print sources
- Title
- Channel Four Television: Press Information, Saturday 8th October - Friday 14th October 1983 (Press pack)
- Archive
- Channel 4 Archives [more information]
Address
Channel 4 Television Corporation, 124 Horseferry Road
Website
Victoria
London
SW1P 2TX
UKhttp://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/a?_ref=3146
AccessThe Channel 4 Archive is under development and not open to the public.
- Title
- Delving into Dr Newman’s Casebook (Newspaper review)
- Author/creator
- Julian Barnes (Reviewer)
- Reference
- The Observer, 16 October 1983
- Title
- Dressed to Thrill: Supersleuths Tommy and Tuppence make their Debut (Newspaper article)
- Author/creator
- Judith Simons (Author)
- Reference
- Daily Express, 8 October 1983, p. 19
- Title
- Family at War (Newspaper review)
- Author/creator
- Michael Wood (Reviewer)
- Reference
- New Society, 6 October 1983, p. 19
- Title
- Happy Birthday: Channel 4’s First Year of Operations (Newspaper article)
- Author/creator
- Julian Barnes (Author)
- Reference
- The Observer, 6 November 1983, p. 35
- Title
- Happy Tale of a Greek Tragedy (Newspaper article)
- Author/creator
- Alix Coleman (Author)
- Reference
- TV Times, 8 October 1983, pp. 76 and 78
- Title
- If You Missed it in 458BC, Catch it this Sunday on Channel 4: The Oresteia (Advertisement)
- Reference
- The Guardian, 7 October 1983
- Title
- Masked Celebration (Newspaper review)
- Author/creator
- Lynne Truss (Reviewer)
- Reference
- The Times Educational Supplement, 7 October 1983
- Title
- Murder, Revenge and Guilt (Newspaper listing)
- Reference
- TV Times, 8 October 1983
- Notes
- with images from the production
- Title
- Revenge Killing (Magazine review)
- Author/creator
- Matthew Hoffman (Reviewer)
- Reference
- The Listener, 6 October 1983, p. 33
- Title
- Tales of Agatha and Agamemnon (Newspaper review)
- Author/creator
- Nancy Banks-Smith (Reviewer)
- Reference
- The Guardian, 10 October 1983, Arts section, p. 11
- Title
- Television: Misty Intimacy (Newspaper review)
- Author/creator
- Michael Church (Reviewer)
- Reference
- The Times, 8 December 1983, p. 15
- Title
- TV: Oresteia, Aeschylus’ Trilogy (Newspaper article)
- Author/creator
- John J. O’Connor (Author)
- Reference
- The New York Times, 1 September 1986
Associated programmes
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