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Harriet Walter (Cleopatra) lies on blankets as she rehearses Act 1 Scene 1.
Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC
Chris Jarman (The Soothsayer) rehearses with Golda Rosheuvel (Charmian), watched by Cleopatra's attendands (Ravi Aujla, Allyson Brown and Julian Bleach).
Harriet Walter (Cleopatra) rehearses a scene with her attendants (Allyson Brown, Emma Jay Thomas and Golda Rosheuvel).
The company rehearse the barge scene. Director Gregory Doran explained that the soldiers are relaxing because they've averted a war.
Harriet Walter (Cleopatra), Golda Rosheuvel (Charmian) and Emma Jay Thomas (Iras) rehearse the scene where Cleopatra finds out that Antony has married Octavia.
Gregory Doran watches the chemistry develop between his Antony and Cleopatra as Patrick Stewart and Harriet Walter rehearse. Behind the desks, Greg's team watches supportively, rather than critically.
John Hopkins rehearses Caesar's relunctant participation in the drinking games. In the theatre, the table tops on the floor were hung from the roof so they sway, as if on a ship.
Gregory Doran encouraged the actors to engage in the 'Bacchanalian spirit' which leads to the dance at the end of the barge scene.
Luke Neal and David Rubin rehearse the dance at the end of the barge scene. Initially the dance involved complex clapping rhythms but the actors were happier when Movement Director Michael Ashcroft simplified it.
The company rehearse arrangements for Act 1 Scene 1.
Director Gregory Doran was seen to have a tear in his eye as he watched the chemistry develop between his Antony and Cleopatra (Patrick Stewart and Harriet Walter)! Behind him is Steve Marmion, Assistant Director.
At the end of barge scene, Menas (David Rubin, right) invites Enorbarbus (Ken Bones) onto his barge. The text can be read to imply a homosexual relationship - but this production did not emphasise this.
Gregory Doran wanted the barge scene to look like it might get out of control. Ariyon Bakare (Pompey) embraces this idea by tipping a bowl of water over himself.
Joseph Alessi (Ventidius) and Rob Carroll (Silius) initially played this scene (Act 3 Scene 1) upbeat but after investigating the text, they realised these soldiers would be exhausted. Often this scene is cut.
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