Exploring Shakespeare

Performance photo gallery

Power and politics, sex and snakes - explore Gregory Doran's 2006 RSC production.

Rehearsal photo gallery

Join the actors behind the scenes as they rehearse scenes and dance routines for Gregory Doran's production.

Director interview (Gregory Doran)

Find out how Greg tackled the challenge of staging Antony and Cleopatra.

Designer interview

Find out how Stephen Brimson Lewis enabled swift scene changes by capturing the spirit of Egypt and Rome.

Teachers' notes [PDF 350K]

Activities for teaching Antony and Cleopatra, based on RSC rehearsal room practice. (You need PDF reader software.)

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If it be love indeed, tell me how much.

Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) threatens Antony (Patrick Stewart) with a whip as she leads him on with his hands tied.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 1
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

There's not a minute of our lives should stretch without some pleasure.

Antony (Patrick Stewart) is infatuated with Cleopatra (Harriet Walter).

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 1
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

You shall outlive the lady whom you serve.

A soothsayer (Chris Jarman) predicts Cleopatra's death as he reads the fortunes of Charmian and Iras (Emma Jay Thomas), watched by Alexas (Julian Bleach).

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 2
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Think on me, that am with Phoebus' amorous pinches black and wrinkled deep in time.

Cleopatra (Harriet Walter - with Emma Jay Thomas as Iras) wonders what Antony is doing.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 5
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

If the great gods be just, they shall assist the deeds of justest men.

Pompey (Peter de Jersey) waits for a sign from the gods to make an attack on the triumvirate of Caesar, Lepidus and Antony. (Peter was standing in for Ariyon Bakare who had broken his leg.)

Act and Scene: Act 2 Scene 1
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Welcome to Rome.

Antony (Patrick Stewart) returns to Rome and meets Octavius Caesar (John Hopkins) and Lepidus (James Hayes).

Act and Scene: Act 2 Scene 2
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

The world and my great office with sometimes divide me from your bosom.

Antony (Patrick Stewart) agrees to marry Octavia (Mariah Gale), Caesar's sister, to show his devotion to Caesar and Rome.

Act and Scene: Act 2 Scene 3
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Thy lustre thickens when he shines by.

A soothsayer (Chris Jarman) tells Antony (Patrick Stewart) that Caesar's fortune is better than his.

Act and Scene: Act 2 Scene 3
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Your hostages I have; so have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight.

Pompey (Peter de Jersey) negotiates with Caesar (John Hopkins), Lepidus (James Hayes) and Antony (Patrick Stewart), and invites them onto his ship.

Act and Scene: Act 2 Scene 6
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

It is shaped, sir, like itself, and it is as broad as it has breadth.

Antony (Patrick Stewart) tells Lepidus (James Hayes) nonsense about crocodiles.

Act and Scene: Act 2 Scene 7
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

The third part then is drunk.

Lepidus (James Hayes) gets drunk and has to be carried off Pompey's ship.

Act and Scene: Act 2 Scene 7
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

I had rather fast from all, four days, than drink so much in one.

Antony (Patrick Stewart) hands Caesar (John Hopkins) a bowl, as he relunctantly joins in the drinking on Pompey's ship.

Act and Scene: Act 2 Scene 7
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

When Antony found Julius Caesar dead, he cried almost to roaring.

Agrippa (Keith Osborn) and Enobarbus (Ken Bones) talk while Caesar (John Hopkins) embraces his sister Octavia (Mariah Gale) before she leaves with Antony.

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 2
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

I heard her speak; she is low-voiced.

The messenger (Craig Gazey) answers Cleopatra's (Harriet Walter) questions about Octavia. He has learned to please her by making Octavia sound unappealing.

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 3
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Speak not against it; I will not stay behind.

Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) resolves to go to war with Antony (Patrick Stewart).

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 7
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought you would have followed.

Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) asks for Antony's (Patrick Stewart) forgiveness for retreating in the battle at sea against Caesar.

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 11
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Your Caesar's father oft � bestowed his lips on that unworthy place as it rained kisses.

After Thidias (Nick Court) kisses her hand, Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) reverse the act, just before being caught by Antony.

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 13
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Cold-hearted towards me?

After finding Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) kissing Thidias, Antony (Patrick Stewart) forgives her.

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 13
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Thou art the armourer of my heart.

Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) helps Eros (Chris Jarman) put on on Antony's armour (Patrick Stewart).

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 4
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

O infinite virtue, com'st thou smiling from the world's great snare uncaught?

Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) greets Antony (Patrick Stewart) when he returns from forcing Caesar's army to retreat.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 8
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Give me thy hand. Through Alexandria make a jolly march.

Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) joins Antony (Patrick Walter) in his celebrations.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 8
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Heaven and earth may strike their sounds together, applauding our approach.

A triumphant Antony (Patrick Stewart) is carried by a soldier (David Rubin).

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 8
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Let the world rank me in register a master-leaver and a fugitive.

Overcome with guilt at deserting Antony, Enobarbus (Ken Bones) vows to die.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 9
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05
Copyright: © RSC 2006

Help me, my women! O, he's more mad than Telamon for his shield.

When Antony threatens to kill her, Charmian (Golda Rosheuvel) suggests Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) flee to her monument.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 13
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05

Then let it do at once the thing why thou hast drawn it.

Antony (Patrick Stewart) commands Eros (Chris Jarman) to kill him, but Eros kills himself instead.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 14
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05

O, make an end of what I have begun.

After falling on his sword, Antony (Patrick Stewart) is found by Decrates (Ravi Aujla).

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 14
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05

Our strength is all gone into heaviness, that makes the weight.

Cleopatra (Harriet Walter), Charmian (Golda Rosheuvel) and Iras (Emma Jay Thomas) haul a dying Antony (Patrick Stewart) up into the monument.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 15
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05

The odds is gone, and there is nothing left remarkable beneath the visiting moon.

Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) faints, overcome at the death of Antony (Patrick Stewart)

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 15
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05

This is his sword; I robbed his wound of it.

Decrates (Ravi Aujla) presents Caesar (John Hopkins) with Antony's sword.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 1
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05

Rather on Nilus' mud lay me stark nak'd and let the waterflies blow me into abhorring!

Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) refuses to go with Proculeius (Rob Carroll) to Rome, saying she will find a way to kill herself instead.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 2
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05

My master and my lord I must obey.

Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) kneels before Caesar (John Hopkins).

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 2
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05

Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding.

A clown (Julian Beach) brings a snake to Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) disguised as a basket of figs.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 2
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05

Give me my robe; put on my crown; I have immortal longings in me.

Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) is dressed in robes by Iras (Emma Jay Thomas) and Charmian (Golda Rosheuvel).

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 2
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05

With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate of life at once untie.

Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) prepares to die by being bitten by an asp. (This production featured a live but harmless snake!)

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 2
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05

She shall be buried by her Antony.

Caesar (John Hopkins) arrives to find Cleopatra (Harriet Walter) and her women dead.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 2
Credit: Pascal Molliere
Date: 2006-05-05

Performance photo gallery

Rehearsal photo gallery

Director interview (Gregory Doran)

Designer interview

Teachers' notes [PDF 350K]

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