Hysteria 2

Alternative title

Shakespeare Sketch

Synopsis

Television charity variety show to support World Aids Day. The event was directed by Stephen Fry and directed for television by David G. Croft. Includes a sketch (c6 mins) in which Rowan Atkinson (in Blackadder costume but not named as such) gives advice to Shakespeare (Hugh Laurie) on the cuts required for Hamlet. An extract from the exchange is as follows:

Blackadder: Exactly. So that’s why I think we should trim some of the dead wood.

Shakespeare: Dead wood?

Blackadder: Yeah, you know: some of that stand-up stuff in the middle of the action.

Shakespeare: You mean the soliloquies?

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Television

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Transmission details

1 Dec 1989 (Channel: Channel Four)

Duration

108 mins

Credits

Director

David G. Croft

Producer

Trevor Hopkins

Writer

Richard Curtis; Stephen Fry

Contributor

Stephen Fry

Cast

Hugh Laurie	William Shakespeare
Rowan Atkinson

Additional Details

Production type

Sitcoms/Variety

Plays

Hamlet

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes

The full script of the Shakespeare sketch can be read by visiting http://www.blackadderhall.com/specials/shakespeare_sketch.shtml. The sketch was available on a video called HYSTERIA 2- THE SECOND COMING currently deleted (2005).

Production Company

Name

Tiger Television

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7255 1444

Fax

020 7436 0165

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN