Dresser, The

Synopsis
An adaptation for television of Ronald Harwood’s play, based on the touring career of Donald Wolfit, for whom Harwood was the dresser. The story relates the complex relationship between Sir, an ageing Shakespearean actor-manager on a provincial tour of England during World War II, and Norman, his gay dresser. Their difficult but mutually dependent (if unacknowledged) relationship resembles that of Lear and the Fool. The film focuses strongly on ‘Sir’s’ performance of King Lear where he comes to see the resemblance between himself and the tragic role he plays. There are also quotations from several other plays,
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Transmission details
31 Oct 2015 at 21:00 (Channel: BBC2)
Duration
105 mins

Credits

Director
Richard Eyre
Writer
Ronald Harwood
Production Design
Suzan Harrison
Cast
Antony HopkinsSir (Lear)
John AshtonEarl of Gloucester
Annalisa RossiGoneril
Carl SandersonDuke of Cornwall
Edward FoxThornton
Emily WatsonHer Ladyship
Helen BradburyRegan
Ian CunninghamEarl of Kent
Ian McKellenNorman
Martin ChamberlainGentleman
Matthew CottleDuke of Albany
Sarah LancashireMadge
Vanessa KirbyIrene

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Plays
King Lear
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Production Company

Name

Playground UK

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

Online Retailer

Name

BBC Store

Web
https://store.bbc.com/ External site opens in new window
Notes
NB. From May 2017 programmes are no longer available to buy on BBC Store. From November 1st 2017 the store will close completely and programmes bought from BBC Store will no longer be available to watch. Customers who have bought items from BBC Store will be contacted by email and refunded for their purchases either by full cash refund or Amazon video vouchers.

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Dresser, The". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av76773 (Accessed 13 Dec 2024)