Antony and Cleopatra

Alternative title
The Shakespeare Plays
Synopsis
BBC production directed by Jonathan Miller with Colin Blakely and Jane Lapotaire in the title roles.
Series
BBC Television Shakespeare
Language
English
Country
Great Britain; United States
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Recording date
5 Mar 1980
Transmission details
8 May 1981 at 19:50 (Channel: BBC2)
Duration
175 mins

Credits

Director
Jonathan Miller
Producer
Jonathan Miller
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
Stephen Oliver
Costume
Alun Hughes
Art Direction
Colin Lowrey
Cast
Colin BlakelyMark Antony
Jane LapotaireCleopatra
Ian CharlesonOctavius Caesar
Donald SumpterSextus Pompey
Emrys JamesEnobarbus
Alec SabinDercetus
Anthony PedleyAgrippa
Cassie McFarlaneIras
Chris EttridgeScarus
Darien AngadiAlexas
David KincaidMessenger
David NealProculeius
Desmond StokesMenecrates
Esmond KnightLepidus
Frederick WarderSoldier 5 (Soldier)
Geoffrey CollinsDolabella
George HoweEuphrenius (Ambassador)
George InnesMenas
Harry WatersThyreas (Thidias)
Howard GoorneySoothsayer
Hugh LundAttendant 2 (Attendant)
Iain RattraySoldier 4 (Soldier)
Janet KeyCharmian
Jimmy GardnerClown
John EasthamServant 1 (Servant)
John PaulCanidius
Jon RumneyAttendant 1 (Attendant)
Jonathan AdamsVentidius
Kevin HuckstepMessenger 1 (Messenger)
Lynn FarleighOctavia
Michael AnthonyMessenger 2 (Messenger)
Michael EganSoldier 6 (Soldier)
Mohammad ShamsiMardian
Pat ConnellSoldier 1 (Soldier)
Richard CliffordSilius
Simon ChandlerEros

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Historical period
Ancient Rome
Plays
Antony and Cleopatra
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
drama in English; performances; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Related items
Antony and Cleopatra
Antony and Cleopatra
BBC TV Shakespeare Collection, The
Jonathan Miller Directs

Notes

Notes
Miller based the design of his production on Paolo Veronese’s "The Family of Darius before Alexander".

The production is commercially available on DVD as part of the BBC TV SHAKESPEARE COLLECTION box set (see separate entry).
History
This production was part of the third season (produced by Jonathan Miller). Recording took 6 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.

Online Retailer

Name

Moviemail

Web
https://www.simplyhe.com/3000-moviemail External site opens in new window
Phone
0844 848 2000
Address
Simply Home Entertainment
PO Box 7741
Ringwood
BH24 9FA
UK
Notes
As of December 2016 the Moviemail web presence is incorporated within the Simply Media website

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Antony and Cleopatra". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/961 (Accessed 25 Nov 2024)