SHAKESPEARE

Alternative title

Shakespeare Shorts

Synopsis

Celebrated actors recite a selection of Shakespearean speeches. The pieces were chosen by each actor as their particular favourite and have been filmed to celebrate the work of organisations and charities including Shakespeare Country, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Simon Callow recites ‘Once more unto the breach, dear friends,' from Henry V. Catherine Tate’s chooses Hermione’s speech ‘Sir, spare your threats,' from The Winter’s Tale. Jonathan Pryce enacts Hamlet’s celebrated ‘To be or not to be’ soliloquy and Samuel West performs a speech from Richard II: ‘No matter where; of comfort no man speak’. Stephen Campbell-Moore’s speaks Mark Anthony’s funeral oration from Julius Caesar, "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears." John Simm’s chosen passage is from Hamlet, Act II, scene ii: ‘Oh what a rogue and peasant slave am I,' . Robert Lindsay performs Edmund’s ‘Why "bastard"?' speech from King Lear. Richard Madden’s chosen passage is the declaration of war from the ‘tennis ball scene’ in Henry V. Janie Dee and Colin Hurley perform extracts from As You Like It: the Countess of Roussillon’s soliloquy, and the comic duologue in Act II, Scene ii, with Dee as the Countess and Hurley as her clown servant Levache. Anthony Head reads Cardinal Wolsey’s monologue from Henry VIII, Act III Scene ii: ‘So farewell to the little good you bear me.' Emilie Head performs a monologue from Romeo and Juliet.

A 30 minute film, broadcasting all the speeches, was transmitted 28 May 2011. The individual monologues were then broadcast throughout May and June on both Sky Arts 1 and 2.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Television

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Transmission details

May 2011 (Channel: Sky Arts 1 HD)

Duration

5 mins each monologue

Availability

No archive copy or distributor known.

Credits

Director

Joe Stephenson

Cast

Anthony Head	Cardinal Wolsey
Catherine Tate	Hermione
Colin Hurley	Lavatch (a clown)
Emilie Head	Juliet
Janie Dee	Countess of Roussillon
John Simm	Hamlet
Jonathan Pryce	Hamlet
Richard Madden	King Henry V
Robert Lindsay	Edmund
Samuel West	King Richard II
Simon Callow	King Henry V
Simon Campbell-Jones	Mark Antony

Additional Details

Production type

Other

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

History

Transmission dates of individual programmes with named actors not known.

Production Company

Name

B Good Picture Company