SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

A programme supporting the AA 306: Shakespeare; Text and Performance course. The audio and video resources for the course offer an insight into Shakespeare’s plays in close relation to the social and political circumstances under which they were written and performed. This broad approach is complemented by a strong emphasis on the diversity of twentieth-century responses, both in terms of criticism and screen and stage product.

Band 1: Macbeth. Band 2: Choices. Band 3: Soliloquies.

Series

Open University Aa306

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Audio; Video

Year of release

2001

Duration

149 mins

Additional Details

Production type

Documentary/Educational/News

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes

The individual titles comprising this course are catalogued separately. Clips and a transcript can be accessed from the Open University Digital Archive,

The library and archive of the Open University are available to staff and students only. Researchers from outside the OU wishing to gain access should contact the Librarian. The OU Archive holds a transcript.

Sections

Title

Introduction: listening to Shakespeare

Synopsis

This audio CD offers an introduction to the rhythm and sound of Shakespeare’s English. Featuring interviews with actors and voice coaches, ‘Introduction: Listening to Shakespeare’ considers various issues in the performance of Shakespeare including the use of accent and the effect of sound and music on audio productions. Particular attention is payed to ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, with a series of exercises on this work included.

Duration

60 mins

Distributors ref

AA306/CDA1

Title

Antony and Cleopatra (audio) 1

Synopsis

An audio recording of a production of ‘Antony and Cleopatra’, recorded for The Open University in 1999, starring Michael Pennington, Lindsay Duncan and Bill Paterson.

Duration

180 mins

Distributors ref

AA306/CDA2

Title

King Lear (audio) 2

Synopsis

An audio recording of ‘King Lear’, produced for The Open University in 1998, starring Frances Barber, David Morrissey and Philip Madoc. 3 CDs.

Duration

180 mins

Distributors ref

AA306/CDA3

Title

Theatre games / Sir John Gielgud

Synopsis

Band 1: Theatre Games - explores the idea of theatre games as proposed by Stanislavski and Barker with reference to Shakespeare. Features footage of Clive Barker and Fiona Shaw conducting workshops.

Band 2: Sir John Gielgud - an extensive conversation between the late Sir John Gielgud and Sir Richard Attenborough, with the former sharing his memories of the multifarious Shakespearean characters he has played. Features footage from a number of the many Shakespearean films in which he starred.

Duration

144 mins

Distributors ref

AA306/VC1043/VCR1

Title

Midsummer night’s dream / Richard II / Twelfth night

Synopsis

Band 1: Staging Dreams - explores how magic can be represented meaningfully in the modern theatre. Features extracts from numerous productions of ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’
Band 2: Casting a King: Richard II - focuses on the issue of casting and considers how our interpretation of lines, characters and a play in general are affected by the choice of actors. Features detailed comparisons of three interpretations of Richard II: Ian McKellen, Derek Jacobi and Fiona Shaw
Band 3: Richard Briers as Malvolio - looks closely at the ‘nuts-and-bolts’ of comic acting in a workshop by Richard Briers. Among more general comments, Briers discusses his interpretation of the role of Malvolio from ‘Twelfth Night’ for Kenneth Branagh, on both stage and screen.
Band 4: Orsino & Viola at the Young Vic Theatre - features two short extracts from Tim Supple’s production, inviting comparison between this and Branagh’s production, discussed in Band 3.

Duration

93 mins

Distributors ref

AA306/VC1044/VCR2

Title

Antony and Cleopatra

Synopsis

Band 1 - Designing Rome and Egypt - examines the contribution of sets and costumes to our interpretation of a play. Focuses on three separate designs for a theatre-in-the-round production of ‘Antony and Cleopatra’.
Band 2 - Imperial Rome, Colonial Egypt - a series of different stagings of selected scenes from the play by Tara Arts, a polyglot Asian theatre company. The performance explores issues surrounding the play including colonialism, accent and setting.

Duration

57 mins

Distributors ref

AA306/VC1045/VCR3

Title

Macbeth / Hamlet

Synopsis

Band 1: Shakespeare on Screen: Macbeth - includes an interview with Roman Polanski about his film production of Macbeth and excerpts from a performance of the play by a native American company.
Band 2: Choices - a filmed workshop by Tony Hill of the Royal Shakespeare Company looking at the range of choices affecting costumes, props, performance styles, lighting, music and sound effects.
Band 3: Soliloquies - Tim Pigott-Smith works with three recent Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts graduates in a workshop on three of Hamlet’s soliloquies.

Duration

149 mins

Distributors ref

AA306/VC1046/VCR4

Title

Measure for measure / The tempest

Synopsis

Band 1: Measure for Measure - explores the interlocking themes of chastity, identity, sexuality, and religion in the play through specially filmed scenes, directed by Fiona Shaw.
Band 2: The Tempest - examines themes of colonialism - both Elizabethan and current - with reference to ‘The Tempest’.

Duration

74 mins

Distributors ref

AA306/VC1047/VCR5

Title

King Lear: text and performance

Synopsis

'King Lear: Text and Performance’ explores the way that meanings are created in theatre and recorded performance through performers, directors, space, audience, design, cultural background, types of performance and techniques of recording and editing. It features excerpts from various productions including an OU/BBC production starring Kenneth Cranham and Celia Imrie and a Japanese Noh theatre production, extracts from an acting masterclass by Fiona Shaw and an interview with Jane Smiley.

Duration

170 mins

Distributors ref

AA306/VC1048/VCR6

Title

Critical interventions

Synopsis

'Critical Interventions’ features a number of interviews with leading Shakespeare critics filmed at the World Shakespeare Congress in Los Angeles (U.S.) in 1996. A range of critical approaches to Shakespeare are discussed including post-colonialism, feminism, new historicism and cultural materialism. Interviewees include Terence Hawkes, John Drakakis and Catherine Belsey.

Duration

56 mins

Distributors ref

AA306/VC1085/VCR7

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Name

Open University

Archive

Name

Open University Archive

Email

lib-help@open.ac.uk

Web

http://www.open.ac.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 659 001

Address

Library Services
The Open University
Walton Hall
MILTON KEYNES MK7 6AA

Distributor (Sale)

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk