Part 22 Julius Caesar
- 2012: Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon; Novello Theatre, London; Moscow Arts Theatre; Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York; Southern Theatre, Columbus, Ohio.
- Filmed for BBC Four
I skipped the first three pages all about Nelson Mandela. Julius Caesar was scheduled for the spring of 2012 in the "World Shakespeare Festival" as part of the Cultural Olympiad. We hear about the cast, all of whom are unknown to me. However, when Greg is deep into rehearsals, Michael Boyd resigns after nearly a decade as Artistic Director of the RSC. Should Greg try again for the top job, having lost out last time. In the March of 2012, Greg is invited to meet the board. His presentation would be on "Ciceronian principles". Hi preparation might be just too much, but the day turns out very differently and he still gets the job.
The most interesting part of Greg's preparation for the play is the Forum scene where Mark Antony speaks in verse and Brutus all in prose. Who knew that? "One of those astonishing scenes in Shakespeare". Featuring, as it does, Julius Caesar, Antony, Cassius, Brutus and death. Going back to those first three pages, the Forum has become a crumbling African football stadium. When the play is filmed for the BBC, the set is a "derelict Chinese hypermarket in Colindale", North London.
5th September 2001 - Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
10th August 2017 - Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Part 23 Richard II
- 2013: Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon; Barbican Theatre, London.
-Filmed, broadcast live and available on DVD, as part of Live from Stratford-upon-Avon.
I actually saw this production in 2016 when it was revived for just five performances. See post 8th January 2016.
In 2012, Greg has been formally appointed Artistic Director of the RSC. His first ambition is to stage the entire Shakespeare cannon. Starting with all the history plays and beginning with David Tennant as Richard II. ( I was also lucky enough to see all the history plays in order at Stratford in 2000/2001). Back to Greg and he tells us lots about the plot and it's interpretation. Michael Pennington is to play Richard with Jane Laportaire as Gloucester's widow.
We hear about what Greg thinks is the greatest scene which is Richard's abdication (or deposition). This is "all Shakespeare's own invention" and Richard's most dazzling performance. He runs rings around Bolingbroke but to no avail. The way the supporting followers were cast is interesting, Richard's a cricket team and Bolingbroke's rugby. We hear a lot about the character Aumerle (not familiar) and how and why he changed his name to Rutland. But Greg is still unsure what that meant. He ends this chapter with a piece called "Live from Stratford-upon-Avon", about the first plays to be beamed live into cinemas and recorded for DVD. After some false starts, it all came good with Richard II on 13th November 2013.
15th January 2000 - The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon
7th January 2016 - The Barbican Theatre, London
Part 24 Henry IV, Part One
-2014: Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon; Barbican Theatre London; and tour to Bejing, Shanghai, Hong Kong; Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), New York.
Filmed, broadcast live and available on DVD, as part of Live from Stratford-upon-Avon.
This chapter starts with the "Templar churches all over Europe" including Temple Church in London. Greg and Jasper Britton, who will play King Henry, visit churches referenced in the play. Alex Hassell is to play Prince Hal and both the following plays through to Henry V. Also Trevor White as Hotspur. Lots of interesting stuff as they work through the play, especially the part about Glendower, the Welsh Wizard.
But the best part is about the eight weeks of rehearsal for the sword fight between Trevor White and Alex Hassell. Of course it is choreographed by the one and only Terry King. "One of his very best duels in this production". After the lush court scenes of Act 1, there is a wonderful description of Act 2 where "we are at a very seedy inn on the Rochester Road". Here are first and second carriers complaining about poor fodder, fleas and everything else.
Struggling to find someone to play Sir John Falstaff, it's Ian McKellen who suggests Anthony Sher who "went on to give one of the performances of his life". There is a kind of postscript to this chapter where Greg talks about taking these three history plays to China and how the audiences there got Shakespeare. "I became quite emotional".
18th July 2000 - Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
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