King John

Synopsis: A video recording, using a single, fixed camera, of the 1988 Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of King John. Directed by Deborah Warner with Nicholas Woodeson as King John and Ralph Fiennes as Louis the Dauphin.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Video
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Recording date: 6 Jun 1989
Duration: 180 mins

General: `The appearance is timeless-modern, the clothes spattered and well used, greatcoats thrown hastily over civilian trousers and City shirts as though the wearers had been surprised by sudden civil war. On a square space bare but for a steel siege - ladders and plain chairs, Warner draws an ensemble performance of great consistency." Michael Ratcliffe, The Observer (15 May 1988). Productions of the play have been few in the latter half of the twentieth century but Deborah Warner’s production was met with, and retained , great critical acclaim.
History: Press night at The Other Place 10 May 1988; Press night at The Pit (from which the RSC recording is made) 2 February 1989.
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: Wardle, Irving The Times (London) 4 May 1989. p. 19

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