A sequence of 25-minute programmes used to teach students the Open University course on Shakespeare that ran for 12 years. The programmes are:
RECONSTRUCTING THE BANKSIDE THEATRES
Professor Glynne Wickham looks at the latest proposals to reconstruct Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre near its original site in Southwark, examining the historical evidence for the construction of theatres in Shakespeare’s time, and discussing the effect of modern alterations to these designs on the authenticity of the project. Professor Wickham is then assisted by actor Robert Powell in examining the possible theatrical effects which could have been achieved in Shakespeare’s day, as well as getting an actor’s point of view of the problems presented by the original stage. The question of cost is discussed with the project’s organiser, Sam Wanamaker.
THE TEMPEST, ACT IV
"This presentation of Act IV--the Masque scene--of The Tempest provides the variety of drama suggested by the text: different kinds of speech and action, dance, music, song, pictorial effect; depth of thought, beauty, fright, and fun. The act shows two parts of the magical triumph of Prospero--the betrothal of Ferdinand and Miranda, and the defeat and punishment of Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo."
Presented by Brian Stone.
Cast
Basil Henson
Genevieve Allenbury
Michael Packer
Kate Fitzgerald
Emma Kate Davies
Rochelle Smithson
Michelle Sachs
Christopher Ryan
Eric Allan
Jim Sport
HENRY IV, PARTS ONE AND TWO: WORKSHOP ONE
"... In this programme, director John Russell-Brown asks Timothy West (Falstaff) and Michael Thomas (Prince Hal) to try out some of [the] crucial scenes, and asks them to explore the ways in which the ebullient humor casts light on the darkest historical elements of the play."
Cast
Timothy West
Michael Thomas
David Ryall
Miriam Karlin
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA WORKSHOP
"... In this programme, director John Russell-Brown concentrates on one ... short scene, in which Antony (James Laurenson) takes his leave of Cleopatra (Gillian Barge) before going into battle with Caesar. Running alongside the moving poetry of farewell is the need to deal with the "business" of the text -- in this case, the donning of a suit of armoUr..."
Presented by Cicely Palser Havely.
Cast
James Laurenson
Gillian Barge
Ewan Stewart
Genevieve Allenbury
Peter Sproule
Jonathan Coy
Shane Connaughton
TWELFTH NIGHT WORKSHOP
"... a group of experienced Shakespearean actors first read through, and then rehearse, Act II, scene 3, one of the funniest scenes in the play. This rehearsal culminates in a runthrough of the scene, showing how the discoveries of the workshop are brought into the play."
Director
Tony Church
Cast
Patrick Stewart
Richard Johnson
Eric Allen
Lisa Harrow
Bernard Lloyd
HAMLET: WORKSHOPS ONE AND TWO
1) "...The program investigates the question of Hamlet's character as director John Russell-Brown takes actor David Yelland through various interpretations of the role, working on some of Hamlet's key speeches and interactions with other characters and trying out various ways of presenting this complex character."
2) "This program expands on the idea of Hamlet's character to bring the prince into dramatic relationship with other characters. The program looks at how far such interactions modify or support issues of character resolved in the first workshop, and how the actor playing this complex role relates the meaning of the famous soliloquies to the dynamic, political moments of the play."
Presented by Cicely Palser Havely.
Cast
David Yelland
Peter Sproule
Dermot Crowley
Shane Connaughton
Adam Norton
Karl Johnson
Tom Wilkinson
Anton Lesser
KING LEAR: WORKSHOPS ONE AND TWO
1) "... In this programme, director John Russell-Brown takes actor Julian Glover through Act II, scene 4, as far as to the storm scene. The central issue is Lear's madness; how can an actor convey it and at the same time be aware of the "reason in madness" so central to the meaning of the play? Answers to this can come only through detailed enactment and discussion of certain crucial moments."
2) "... The program looks in detail at Act IV, scene 6, the storm scene, and at Lear's poignant re-encounter with the blind Gloucester, played by Basil Henson."
Presented by Graham Martin.
Cast
Julian Glover
Basil Henson
James Laurenson
Karl Johnson
MEASURE FOR MEASURE: WORKSHOPS ONE AND TWO
1) "... This programme concentrates on Act II, scene 2, in which Isabella (Jenny Agutter) comes to plead with Angelo (Michael Thomas) for her brother's life. Director John Brown asks what, and how much, each character can be said to reveal of themselves here. Through this highly focused rehearsal, it becomes possible to discover an Isabella far more passionate and far more complex than sometimes portrayed."
2) "In Act III, scene 1, Isabella comes to tell her brother Claudio (David Yelland) that he must die, since she will not forfeit her chastity to save him. The emotional focus of this great scene is intense, and its poetry extremely complex and compressed. By working carefully through its most difficult moments, director John Russell-Brown examines the extent to which actors can convey this emotion through gestures and language."
Cast
Jenny Agutter
Michael Beint
Michael Thomas
Chris Hunter
DVD comes complete with clear DVD case and full artwork
Please note film has never been commerically released on DVD.. We have transferred from tv recording onto DVD