Comedy of Errors, The

Alternative title
The Shakespeare Plays
Synopsis
Television production with Michael Kitchen and Roger Daltrey doubling the roles of Antipholus and Dromio respectively. The ‘commedia dell arte style is underscored by the integration of mimes into the play.
Series
BBC Television Shakespeare
Language
English
Country
Great Britain; United States
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Recording date
3 Nov 1983
Transmission details
24 Dec 1983 at 17:00 (Channel: BBC2)
Duration
115 mins

Credits

Director
James Cellan Jones
Producer
Shaun Sutton
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
Richard Holmes
Costume
June Hudson
Art Direction
Don Homfray
Cast
Michael KitchenAntipholus of Ephesus
Michael KitchenAntipholus of Syracuse
Roger DaltreyDromio of Ephesus
Roger DaltreyDromio of Syracuse
Suzanne BertishAdriana
Alfred HoffmanMerchant (Angelo’s creditor)
Bunny ReedJailer
Charles GraySolinus, Duke of Ephesus
Cyril CusackEgeon
David KellyBalthasar
Frank WilliamsOfficer
Geoffrey RoseDoctor Pinch
Ingrid PittCourtesan
Joanne PearceLuciana
Marsha FitzalanLuce
Nicholas ChagrinMaster Mime
Noel JohnsonMerchant of Ephesus
Peter MackrielMessenger
Sam DastorAngelo
Wendy HillerEmilia

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Plays
Comedy of Errors, The
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Commedia dell’Arte; drama in English; mime; performances; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Doubling of roles
Related items
Comedy of Errors
Comedy of Errors, The

Notes

Notes
The design reflects the varied origins of the play: the classical world, the Renaissance, and the commedia dell’arte.
The production is commercially available on DVD as part of the BBC TV SHAKESPEARE COLLECTION box set (see separate entry).
History
This production is part of the sixth season (producer: Shaun Sutton). The recording took seven days.
Textual information
Between 1978 and 1986 the BBC published individual scripts of the series. Each volume of The BBC TV Shakespeare, ed. Peter Alexander et al. (London: British Broadcasting Corporation) contains the full text of the play (the Peter Alexander edition) with accompanying notes on the scene breaks and cuts made in the production, as well as a glossary. A general introduction to the play by series literary advisor John Wilders is followed by an essay on the production of the play by Henry Fenwick. This is based on interviews with actors, directors, and designers.
Reviews
Susan Willis, The BBC Shakespeare Plays: Making the Televised Canon (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1991).

Production Company

Name

BBC Television

Name

Time-Life Films Inc

Phone
0101 201 843 4545
Address
PO Box 644
NJ 07652
USA

Distributor (Sale)

Name

Simply Media

Contact
Laura Smith
Email
info@simplymedia.tv
Web
http://www.simplymedia.tv/ External site opens in new window
Phone
0203 542 3722
Address
Highlight House
57 Margaret Street
London W1W 8SJ
Notes
Formerly known as DD Home Entertainment or DDHE
Name

Trumedia Ltd

Contact
Bill Cotton
Email
sales@trumedia.co.uk
Web
https://trumedia.co.uk/ External site opens in new window
Phone
01865 847837
Fax
01865 847837
Address
9 Meadow View
Kidlington
Kidlington
OX5 2XY
Notes
Trumedia supplies video tapes and DVDs to UK schools, colleges and universities and is geared up to take official orders from educational institutions. The catalogue highlights programmes likely to be of use in the curriculum, but the company can supply any video in current UK distribution, as well as some deleted titles. Particularly strong in the areas of English literature and drama, as well as history, natural history, art & artists, and foreign language films.

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Comedy of Errors, The". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/4111 (Accessed 06 Oct 2024)