Age of Kings, An
- Alternative title
- Shakespeare’s an Age of Kings
- Synopsis
- 5-disc DVD box set of the fifteen-part BBC series comprising Shakespeare’s history plays from Richard II to Richard III (the two tetralogies). The Illuminations release also features THE MAKING OF AN AGE OF KINGS, which comprises an interview with Tony Garnett filmed at Riverside Studios where the series was originally broadcast live. He recalls his experiences on this ground-breaking project and reflects on the challenges of making one of the most ambitious Shakespeare projects ever filmed.
Also included in the DVD pack is a 24 page booklet giving background information and critical writing about the production. - Series
- Age of Kings, An
- Language
- English
- Country
- Great Britain
- Medium
- Video
- Year of release
- 2013
- Duration
- 900 mins
Credits
- Director
- Michael Hayes
- Producer
- Peter Dews
- Writer
- William Shakespeare
- Music
- Christopher Whelen
- Art Direction
- Stanley Morris
Additional Details
- Production type
- Television and Radio Drama
- Historical period
- Medieval
- Plays
- Henry IV Part 1; Henry IV Part 2; Henry V; Henry VI part 1; Henry VI part 2; Henry VI part 3; Richard II; Richard III
- Subjects
- Drama; Shakespeare
- Keywords
- Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
- Related items
- Eternity of Kings, An
Notes
- General
- As Michael Brooke notes, this production was "the most conceptually ambitious Shakespeare project ever attempted for either film or television." Each episode involved expenses of £4.000 and a cast of 600. The rehearsal period took thirty weeks.
- History
- Released 31 March 2009 in the USA, December 2013 in the UK. For original transmission dates of individual broadcast episodes see separate entries which also give full cast details.
- Awards
- Directors Guild of Great Britain Award for Excellence in Directing (Peter Dews)
1962 The George Foster Peabody Award - Reviews
- Michael Brooke, "Age of Kings, An (1960)", http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/527213/index.html. John Wyver. ‘Return of the Kings’ (Viewfinder, no. 94, March 2014).
Production Company
- Name
BBC
- Notes
- The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Distributor
- Name
Illuminations
- louise@illuminationsmedia.co.uk
- Web
- http://www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk External site opens in new window
- Phone
- 020 7288 8400
- Address
- Studio 121, ScreenWorks
22 Highbury Grove
London
N5 2EF - Notes
- Illuminations produces and distributes programmes on arts-related subjects, some of which are made for television and others in conjunction with cultural institutions to accompany specific exhibitions. Many titles are available for sale on DVD, including continuing series on leading contemporary and twentieth century artists and modern architecture, as well as a few programmes on religion, drama, history and ideas.
Distributor (Sale)
- Name
Retail outlets
How to cite this record
Shakespeare, "Age of Kings, An". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av71771 (Accessed 25 Nov 2024)