Production 1976

Act 1 Scene 2

Antipholus of Syracuse A trusty villian sir, that very oft, / When I am dull with care and melancholy, / Lightens my humour with his merry jests.

Photograph shows: Antipholus of Syracuse (Roger Rees) with Dromio of Syracuse (Michael Williams)

Photo: Joe Cocks Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Act 2 Scene 2

Adriana How coes it now, my husband, O! how comes it.
That thou art thus estranged from thyself?

Adriana is confused and upset because her husband, Antipholus, does not recognise her.

Photograph shows (left to right): Dromio of Syracuse (Michael Williams) and Antipholus of Syracuse (Roger Rees) meet Adriana (Judi Dench) and Luciana (Francesca Annis) for the first time.

Photo: Joe Cocks Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Act 3 Scene 1

Antipholus of Ephesus is barred from entering his own home so he visits the courtesan. In this production, the comedy was enhanced by farcical moments like the one pictured.

Photograph shows (left to right): Dromio of Syracuse (Michael Williams), Antipholus of Ephesus (Mike Gwilym) and The Courtesan (Barbara Shelly).

Photo: Joe Cocks Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Act 4 Scene 4

Dr Pinch Mistress, both man and master is possess'd: / I know it by their pale and deadly looks.
They must be bound and laid in some dark room.

Dr Pinch deems that Dromio and Antipholus of Ephesus are mad and binds them to chairs, to be taken to Adriana's house.

Photograph shows (left to right): Dromio of Ephesus (Nickolas Grace, seated left), Dr Pinch (Robin Ellis) with Adriana (Judi Dench) and Antipholus of Ephesus (Mike Gwilym, seated right).

Photo: Joe Cocks Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Act 4 Scene 4

Dr Pinch preparing for his examination of Dromio and Antipholus of Ephesus.

Photograph shows (left to right): Dromio of Ephesus (Nickolas Grace), Dr Pinch (Robin Ellis) and Antipholus of Ephesus (Mike Gwilym).

Photo: Joe Cocks Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Act 5 Scene 1

Adriana I see two husbands, or mine eyes deceive me!

The Antipholus twins are reunited to the astonishment of Adriana.

Photograph shows (left to right): Luciana (Francesca Annis), Antipholus of Syracuse (Roger Rees), Officer (Richard Griffiths), Antipholus of Ephesus (Mike Gwilym) and Adriana (Judi Dench)

Photo: Joe Cocks Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Act 5 Scene 1

Dromio of Ephesus We came into the world like brother and brother;
And now let's go hand in hand, not one before another.

Photograph shows Dromio of Syracuse (Michael Williams, left) with Dromio of Ephesus (Nickolas Grace) at the end of the play.

Photo: Joe Cocks Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Act 5 Scene 1

Abbess The duke, my husband, and my children both, / And you the calendars of their nativity,
Go to a gossip's feast, and joy with me: / After so long grief such festivity!

The Abbess reveals that she is Emilla, the long-lost wife of Aegeon and the mother of the Antipholus twins.

Photograph shows (left to right): Antipholus of Syracuse (Roger Rees), Aegeon (Griffith Jones), Abbess/Emilia (Marie Kean) and Antipholus of Ephesus (Mike Gwilym)

Photo: Joe Cocks Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Antipholus of Syracuse They say this town is full of cozenage, / As, nimble jugglers that deceive the eye,
Dark-working sorcerers that change the mind, / Soul-killing witches that deform the body,
Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks, / And many such-like liberties of sin

Photo shows the set for the 1976 production, with its detailed design for the market in Ephesus, complete with strings of lights, posters and shops full of touristy souvenirs.

Photo: Joe Cocks Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust