Comedy of Errors, The

Synopsis: A video recording, using a single, fixed camera, of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 1990 production of The Comedy of Errors. Directed by Ian Judge with Desmond Barrit doubling as the Antipholus twins.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Video
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Recording date: 10 Aug 1991
Duration: 135 mins

Notes: A recording was also made at the Barbican 13 January 1993.
General: `Mark Thompson’s astonishing set - a chequerboard hallway surrounded by doors through which characters burst Keystone Cops-style - recalls Alice in Wonderland, Magritte and de Chirico. Walls melt into brilliant sky; the merchants of Ephesus are bowler-hatted clones in secondary-coloured suits; outsize golden guild signs hang in mid-air with the irony of Jeff Koons sculptures." Claire Monk, What’s On (6 January 1993).
History: Press night 25 April 1990. The production transferred to the Barbican. In 1992 it was revived and went on tour.
Awards: Desmond Barrit won an Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance for his roles as the Antipholus twins. Mark Thompson won the Award for Best Set Design.
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: Ranald, Margaret Loftus. Shakespeare Bulletin no. 1 (1991), pp15-16.

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