Arrogant, malicious, playful and transcendent, Cleopatra ensnares Antony and theatre audiences with her overbearing disposition.

Sinead Cusack played Cleopatra in Michael Attenborough's recent production (2002 - photo 1). Her performance was described by one reviewer as '. . . frisky, intelligent, sensual and witty. Everything Cleopatra should be' (Daily Mail).

Glenda Jackson, Helen Mirren (photo 2) and Frances de la Tour have all played Cleopatra at the RSC. Janet Suzman's Cleopatra (photo 3), from the 1972 production directed by Trevor Nunn, was a queen who confidently demanded Antony's affection. Her Egypt was a sensual place where Antony was encouraged to indulge in her love. Trevor Nunn used a comparatively simple set in an attempt to emphasise the play's more intimate scenes.

This trajectory was continued in Peter Brook's production (1978) with Glenda Jackson as Cleopatra and four years later Adrian Noble went a step further and staged a production (1982) in the Stratford's small studio space, The Other Place. In this space, the audience was brought into the centre of Cleopatra's world. Helen Mirren, who played the queen, demonstrated her hold over Antony (Michael Gambon) whilst also tenderly revealing her vulnerability.

Harriet Walter (photo 4) played Cleopatra in the 2006 Complete Works Festival production directed by Gregory Doran. ‘Harriet Walter captures the queen's blazing theatricality, vulnerability and joie de vivre’  (Evening Standard)