Antony and Cleopatra

Synopsis: A video recording, using a single, fixed camera of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 1982 studio production of Antony and Cleopatra. Directed by Adrian Noble with Michael Gambon as Antony and Helen Mirren as Cleopatra.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Video
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Recording date: 6 Jul 1983
Duration: 180 mins

Notes: "The monotone starkness of Stratford is to be replaced by a uniform black, against which the action in Rome and Egypt, played without fanfares and scene changes, is given only lighting for contrast; the costumes remain almost brutally functional models of robe and uniform." Richard Ingram, The Guardian, (2 April 83).
General: Helen Mirren reprised the role of Cleopatra for the National Theatre in 1998 in a production directed by Sean Mathias.
History: The production opened at The Other Place in 1982. Press night at the Pit was 12 April 1983 and it is from the run at the Pit that the RSC video recording is taken.
Stills: Stills from, and design notes on, the production are available on the Arts and Humanities Performing Arts Data Service (AHDS) at http://ahds.ac.uk/performingarts/collections/designing-shakespeare.htm
Reviews: Hewison, Robert The Sunday Times (17 April 1983), p, 43.

Name: Royal Shakespeare Company
Web: https://www.rsc.org.uk External site opens in new window
Address: Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Waterside
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
CV37 6BB

British Universities Film & Video Council