SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

Television documentary celebrating the work of Paul Scofield. Includes footage of Scofield on tour in Romania with the RSC production of King Lear directed by Peter Brook in 1964. Shots of the cast getting off the train, the cast taking a curtain call, and then Scofield taking a solo call. He is presented with a large arrangement of flowers. Footage of Scofield and the cast of Hamlet directed by Peter Brook on tour in Moscow in 1967. Brief shots (no sound) of the duel scene and the curtain call, audience standing to applaud. Shots of Scofield alighting from the aeroplane in Britain on his return, and a reporter talking to cast. Peter Brook gives an anecdote about Scofield’s speech to the audience and Joy Scofield (nee Parker) speaks of how well the Company was received. Brief (and rare) black and white fragment of the RSC production of King Lear at Stratford (silent) filmed from the circle. Brief shot of Peter Hall leading a casting meeting for Macbeth, Scofield sits in the front row in the rehearsal room. Scofield is heard briefly (sound only) speaking part of the ‘to be or not to be’ soliloquy; as Don Armado (probably from the BBC Radio 3 1979 production); as Oberon with Joy Parker as Titania (Harper Collins sound recording), and the programme ends with Scofield reciting Prospero’s farewell speech (probably from the 1974 BBC Radio 3 production). Narrated by Juliet Stevenson.

Series

Arena

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Television

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Transmission details

24 Dec 2008 at 22:15 (Channel: BBC2)

Duration

60 mins

Credits

Director

David Thompson

Producer

Rosemary Tratt

Contributor

Alec McCowen; Christopher Hampton; Donald Sinden; Eileen Atkins; Felicity Kendal; John Harrison; John Hurt; Joy Parker; Juliet Stevenson; Michael Billington; Nicholas Hytner; Paul Scofield; Peter Brook; Peter Hall; Richard Eyre; Simon Callow; Vanessa Redgrave; Virginia McKenna

Additional Details

Production type

Documentary/Educational/News

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Royal Shakespeare Company; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Scofield, Paul (1922-2008)

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7255 1444

Fax

020 7436 0165

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

Name

Learning on Screen Off-Air Recording Back-up Service

Email

services@bufvc.ac.uk

Web

http://bufvc.ac.uk/tvandradio/offair External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7393 1514

Fax

020 7393 1555

Address

For Learning on Screen Members only
77 Wells Street
London
W1T 3QJ